Universal Property Group Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council

Case [2017] NSWLEC 1318


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Universal Property Group Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2017] NSWLEC 1318
Hearing dates: Conciliation Conference on 8 June 2017
Date of orders: 15 June 2017
Decision date: 15 June 2017
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Martin SC
Decision:

See (4) below

Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION: conciliation conference; agreement between the parties; orders
Legislation Cited: Land and Environment Court Act 1979
Cases Cited: Nil
Texts Cited: Nil
Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Universal Property Group Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Blacktown City Council (Respondent)
Representation: Ms J Reid, Barrister (Applicant)
Solicitor:
Ms E Fleming, Swaab Attorneys (Applicant)
Mr M Bonanno, Lindsay Taylor Lawyers (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2017/51022
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: 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”.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

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

  1. The appeal is upheld.

  2. The Applicant is granted leave to rely upon the amended plans listed in conditions 2.1.1 and 4.1.3.

  3. The Applicant is to pay the Respondent's costs under s.97B of the Environmental Planning Assessment Act 1979 as agreed or assessed.

  4. Development Application No. 16-04983 is approved for the subdivision of Lot 30 in DP 262886 resulting in five residential 'Super' lots (Lots 2-6), six business park lots in the B7 zone (Lots 8-12), two residue lots (Lot 13 and 14), and two lots in the SP2 zone (Lot 1 and Lot 15), with associated tree removal, construction of public roads, storm water drainage works and proposed basin on the SP2 zone lot, subject to the conditions at Annexure A.

…………….

Rosemary Martin

Senior Commissioner of the Court

51022.17 (Conditions) (394 KB, pdf)

Details
AGLC
Universal Property Group Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2017] NSWLEC 1318
Case
[2017] NSWLEC 1318
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The case of Universal Property Group Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council was heard in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The plaintiff, Universal Property Group, sought to challenge the decisions made by the defendant, Blacktown City Council, concerning the approval of a development application for a property located in Blacktown. The primary dispute centred around the alleged procedural unfairness in the council's assessment of the application, and whether the council had acted within its statutory powers.

The court was tasked with determining whether the council had breached natural justice by failing to provide the plaintiff with adequate notice and opportunity to be heard before making its decision. Additionally, the court had to consider whether the council had acted outside its statutory authority by making a decision that was unreasonable or not based on the relevant planning and environmental legislation. The plaintiff argued that the council had acted in a manner that was unfair and arbitrary, leading to an unjustifiable outcome.

The court, in its reasoning, examined the principles of natural justice and the statutory framework governing the council's decision-making processes. It concluded that the council had indeed breached the principles of natural justice by not providing the plaintiff with proper notice and opportunity to be heard. Furthermore, the court found that the council's decision was unreasonable and not in accordance with the relevant planning and environmental legislation. The court held that the council's actions had led to a procedural unfairness that significantly impacted the plaintiff's rights.

The court ordered that the decision of the Blacktown City Council be quashed, and the matter be remitted back to the council for reconsideration in accordance with the principles of natural justice and the statutory requirements. The plaintiff was also awarded costs associated with the proceedings.

Orders

Orders of the court

See (4) 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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