Denoci Pty Ltd v Liverpool City Council [2020] NSWLEC 102

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Denoci Pty Ltd v Liverpool City Council [2020] NSWLEC 102 Hearing dates: 18 June 2020 Date of orders: 30 July 2020 Decision date: 30 July 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court orders: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) The appellant is to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: APPEAL - appeal against Commissioner's decision on questions of law – whether misconstruction of the proposed development and land on which it was to be carried out– whether the species impact statement failed to comply with Chief Executive's requirements – whether misconstruction and misapplication of cl 7.6 of Liverpool Local Environmental Plan (LLEP) – whether misconstruction of term 'environmentally sensitive area' in cl 7.31 LLEP – whether failure to give reasons – whether denial of procedural fairness – whether misconstruction and misapplication of fifth control in Liverpool Development Control Plan – whether misapplication of statutory test in s 4.15(3A) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 – whether failure to consider proposed offsets through purchase of biodiversity credits from registered biobank sites – no errors of law Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation (Savings and Transitional) Regulation 2017 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 4.15 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 ss 39, 56A Liverpool Development Control Plan 2008 Liverpool Local Environmental Plan 2008 State Environmental Planning Policy No 1 – Development Standards Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Cases Cited: Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 121 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 BGP Properties Pty Ltd v Lake Macquarie City Council (2004) 138 LGERA 237 Botany Bay City Council v Pet Carriers International Pty Ltd (2013) 201 LGERA 116; [2013] NSWLEC 147 Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc v Minister for Planning and Infrastructure (2013) 194 LGERA 347; [2013] NSWLEC 48 Denoci Pty Limited v Liverpool City Council [2019] NSWLEC 1643 Forgall Pty Ltd v Greater Taree City Council [2015] NSWCA 340 Forgall Pty Ltd v Greater Taree City Council (2015) 209 LGERA 160; [2015] NSWLEC 61 Housing Commissioner of NSW v Tatmar Pastoral Co Pty Ltd (1983) 3 NSWLR 378 Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council (2018) 236 LGERA 256; [2018] NSWLEC 118 Lo v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2013) 85 NSWLR 86; [2013] NSWCA 180 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend (1986) 162 CLR 24 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 Randwick Municipal Council v Manousaki (1988) 66 LGRA 330 RebelMH Neutral Bay Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2019] NSWCA 130 Segal v Waverley Council (2005) 64 NSWLR 177; [2005] NSWCA 310 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Warkworth Mining Ltd v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Denoci Pty Ltd (Appellant) Liverpool City Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Wright SC (Appellant) Mr I Hemmings SC (Respondent)