Woollahra Municipal Council v SJD DB2 Pty Limited [2020] NSWLEC 115

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Woollahra Municipal Council v SJD DB2 Pty Limited [2020] NSWLEC 115 Hearing dates: 14 July 2020 Date of orders: 18 August 2020 Decision date: 18 August 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 a Commissioner's decision on questions of law – shoptop housing development contravened height and FSR development standards – decision to grant development consent – objectives of height and FSR development standards – consistency with desired future character of neighbourhood or area – whether misconstruction of "desired future character" – whether to be construed by reference to Woollahra Development Control Plan 2015 (WDCP) – whether approved adjoining development that contravened development standards an irrelevant consideration – whether misconstruction of desired future character provisions in WDCP – whether misdirection in assessing consistency with objective (d) of height development standard to minimise visual intrusion– whether failure to give adequate reasons for satisfaction required by cl 4.6(3) of Woollahra Local Environmental Plan (WLEP) – whether misconstruction of control C3 in s D5.6.2 of WDCP to design for first floor commercial use – no errors of law established Legislation Cited: Environment and Planning Assessment Act 1979 ss 3.42, 3.43, 4.15 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 ss 38, 56A Woollahra Development Control Plan 2015 Woollahra Local Environmental Plan 2014 Cases Cited: Alexandria Landfill Pty Ltd v Transport for NSW [2020] NSWCA 165 Botany Bay City Council v Premier Customs Services (2009) 172 LGERA 338; [2009] NSWCA 226 Commissioner of Taxation v Macoun (2014) 227 FCR 265; [2015] FCAFC 162 Mine Subsidence Board v Wambo Coal Pty Ltd (2007) 154 LGERA 60; [2007] NSWCA 137 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 124 NSW Land and Housing Corporation v Orr (2019) 100 NSWLR 578; [2019] NSWCA 231 Plaintiff M47-2012 v Director-General of Security (2012) 251 CLR 1; [2012] HCA 46 Randall v Willoughby City Council (2005) 144 LGERA 119; [2015] NSWCA 205 Resource Pacific Pty Ltd v Wilkinson [2013] NSWCA 33 Segal v Waverley Council (2005) 64 NSWLR 177; [2005] NSWCA 310 SJD DB2 Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2020] NSW12 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Woollahra Municipal Council (Appellant) SJD DB2 Pty Limited (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Lazarus SC (Appellant) Mr A Galasso SC (Respondent)