Universal Property Group Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council

Case [2018] NSWLEC 1196


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Universal Property Group Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2018] NSWLEC 1196
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 30 November and 21 December 2017, and 25 January, 2 February and 20 April 2018
Date of orders: 20 April 2018
Decision date: 20 April 2018
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Brown C
Decision:

See [5] below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: subdivision, creation of three lots, a residue lot, public roads and subsequent construction of 25 dwellings in a multi-dwelling development including site works, construction of driveways, car parking, stormwater drainage, tree removal and associated landscaping works conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Universal Property Group Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Blacktown City Council(Respondent)
Representation: Solicitors:
E Fleming, Herbert Geer (Applicant)
D Creais, Bartier Perry (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2017/188468
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This is an appeal by Universal Property Group Pty Ltd against the deemed refusal by Council of Development Application No. DA-17-00632 for the proposed subdivision, creation of three lots, a residue lot, public roads and subsequent construction of 25 dwellings in a multi-dwelling development including site works, construction of driveways, car parking, stormwater drainage, tree removal and associated landscaping works on Lot 72 in DP 28833 land known as 93 Hambledon Road, Schofields.

  2. In this matter, at or after a conciliation conference, an agreement under s 34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (the Court Act) was reached between the parties as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that was acceptable to the parties. As the presiding Commissioner, I was satisfied that the decision was one that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions (this being the test applied by s 34(3) of the Court Act). As a consequence, s 34(3)(a) of the Act required me to “dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the decision”.

  3. The Court Act also required me to “set out in writing the terms of the decision” (s 34(3)(b)). The orders made to give effect to the agreement constitute that document.

  4. In making the orders to give effect to the agreement between the parties, I was not required to make, and have not made, any merit assessment of the issues that were originally in dispute between the parties.

  5. The final orders to give effect to the parties’ agreement under s34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 are:

  1. The Applicant is granted leave to rely upon the following amended material:

Drawing reference

Title

Prepared by

Date

DA01, Rev 2

Site Analysis

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

21 November 2017

DA02, Rev 2

Subdivision Plan

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

21 November 2017

DA03, Rev 3

Site Plan

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

30 November 2017

DA04, Rev 3

Ground Floor Plan

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

30 November 2017

DA05, Rev 2

First Floor Plan

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

21 November 2017

DA06, Rev 2

Elevations

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

21 November 2017

DA07, Rev 2

Elevations and Sections

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

21 November 2017

DA08, Rev 2

Shadow Analysis

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

21 November 2017

DA09, Rev 2

Shadow Matrix

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd

21 November 2017

P93-C02-001, Issue P05

Cover Sheet

Arup Consulting Engineers

Undated

P93-C02-002, Issue P05

Locality Plan, Drawing Schedule and Legend

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-100, Issue P05

Bulk Earthworks Multi Dwelling Development Lots Sheet 1 of 2

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-101, Issue P05

Bulk Earthworks Multi Dwelling Development Lots Sheet 2 of 2

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-102, Issue P05

Bulk Earthworks Driveway No's 1 and 2 Longitudinal Sections and Typical Sections 1 and 2

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-103, Issue P05

Bulk Earthworks Stage 1 Cut and Fill Plan

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-104, Issue P05

Bulk Earthworks Stage 2 Cut and Fill Plan

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-200, Issue P05

Index plan and section 94 Works

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-201, Issue P05

Roadworks and Drainage Setout Plan Sheet 1 of 4

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-202, Issue P05

Roadworks and Drainage Setout Plan Sheet 2 of 4

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-203, Issue P05

Roadworks and Drainage Setout Plan Sheet 3 of 4

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-204, Issue P05

Roadworks and Drainage Setout Plan Sheet 4 of 4

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-205, Issue P05

Proposed Jerralong Dr. Longitudinal Section and Typical Cross Section

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-206, Issue P05

Future Road No. 2 Connection, Road No. 3 Longitudinal Sections and Typical Cross Sections

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-207, Issue P05

Road No. 4 Longitudinal Section and Typical Cross Section

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-208, Issue P05

Future Road No. 4 Longitudinal Sections

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-209, Issue P05

Road No. 5 Longitudinal Section and Typical Cross Section

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-250, Issue P05

Retaining Wall No. 1 Longitudinal Section and Earthworks Excavation Details

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-251, Issue P05

Retaining Wall No. 2 Longitudinal Section and Earthworks Excavation Details

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-300, Issue P05

Trunk Drainage Culvert (Section 94 Works) Longitudinal Section Line No. 901

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-301, Issue P05

Drainage External Catchment Plan Section 94 Works

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-302, Issue P05

Drainage Catchment Plan

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-303, Issue P05

Drainage Calculation Sheet 1 of 3

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-304, Issue P05

Drainage Calculation Sheet 2 of 3

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-305, Issue P05

Drainage Calculation Sheet 3 of 3

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-306, Issue P05

Drainage Longitudinal Section Line No's 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-307, Issue P05

Drainage Longitudinal Section Line No's 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 29, 32, 34, Basin Inlet & Basin Outlet

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

P93-C02-308, Issue P05

Drainage Longitudinal Section Line No. Culvert 901

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)011, Issue P02

Future Drainage Plan

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)012, Issue P02

Future Drainage Catchment Plan

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)013, Issue P02

Future Drainage Calculation Sheet 1 of 4

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)014, Issue P02

Future Drainage Calculation Sheet 2 of 4

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)015, Issue P02

Future Drainage Calculation Sheet 3 of 4

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)016, Issue P02

Future Drainage Calculation Sheet 4 of 4

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)017, Issue P02

Future Drainage Longitudinal Section Line No's 1, 1-F, 1-INT, 1A, 2 and 3

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)018, Issue P02

Future Drainage Longitudinal Section Line No's 3-F, 4, 5, 6, 8, 8-F, 9, 9-f, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)019, Issue P02

Future Drainage Longitudinal Section Line No's 20, 21, 22, 22, 23, 23-INT, 24, 25, 26-INT & 28-INT

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)020, Issue P02

Future Drainage Longitudinal Section Line No's 29, 30-INT, 31, 31-INT, 32, 33 and 34

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

SK(D)021, Issue P02

Future Drainage Longitudinal Section Line No's 35, 36, 36-INT, 37, 38, and Line Culvert

Arup Consulting Engineers

7 March 2018

249413, Rev 2

Temporary Water Quality Treatment and On Site Detention

Arup Consulting Engineers

8 December 2017

NE164

Validation Report on Site Contamination for Proposed Residential Development

Geotesta

26 July 2017

  1. The appeal is upheld.

  2. The Applicant is to pay the Respondent's costs under section 8.15(3) of the Environmental Planning Assessment Act 1979 as agreed or assessed.

  3. Development Application No. DA-17-0062 for the subdivision to create four (4) Torrens Title lots, construction of public roads and subsequent construction of 25 dwellings in a multi-dwelling development including construction of driveways on proposed Lots 2 and 3, stormwater drainage, tree removal and associated landscaping works on 93 Hambledon Road, Schofields (legally described as Lot 1 in DP 1240158, previously described as Lot 72 in DP 28833, Part Lot 56 in DP1213802, previously Lot 85 DP28833, and Lot 17 DP1231838, is approved subject to the conditions in Annexure “A”.

……………………….

Graham Brown

Commissioner of the Court

Annexure A (213 KB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
Universal Property Group Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2018] NSWLEC 1196
Case
[2018] NSWLEC 1196
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case before the Federal Court of Australia involved Universal Property Group Pty Ltd, the appellant, and Blacktown City Council, the respondent. The dispute centred on the validity of a notice issued by the Council under the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) to the appellant, requiring the removal of unauthorised structures from a property. The appellant challenged the notice on several grounds, including the Council's authority to issue such a notice and the adequacy of the notice itself. The Court of Appeal was tasked with determining the validity of the notice and the Council's actions.

The legal issues before the court were whether the Council had the requisite statutory authority to issue the notice, and if the notice itself was valid under the Act. The appellant argued that the Council had no power to issue the notice as it pertained to a matter that should have been dealt with under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW). Furthermore, the appellant contended that the notice was inadequate because it did not provide sufficient detail to allow for proper compliance. The respondent, on the other hand, asserted that the Council had the authority under the Local Government Act to address unauthorised structures and that the notice was sufficient in form and substance.

The Court of Appeal, in its decision, held that the Council did indeed have the statutory authority to issue the notice under the Local Government Act. The court found that the appellant's argument that the matter should have been handled under a different Act was misplaced, as the Local Government Act provided a clear framework for dealing with unauthorised structures. Regarding the adequacy of the notice, the court determined that it met the necessary requirements, providing sufficient detail for the appellant to understand and comply with the Council's directive. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and the Council's notice was upheld as valid.

In its orders, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the decision of the lower court. The appellant was required to comply with the notice issued by the respondent within the specified timeframe, and the appeal costs were awarded to the respondent.

Orders

Orders of the court

See [5] below

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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