De Battista v Shoalhaven City Council [2020] NSWLEC 164

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: De Battista v Shoalhaven City Council [2020] NSWLEC 164 Hearing dates: 29 October 2020, 12 November 2020 Date of orders: 27 November 2020 Decision date: 27 November 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 6 Before: Pain J Decision: (1) The appeal of the conviction, sentence and costs orders made by Magistrate Farnan on 10 March 2020 at the Local Court is dismissed. (2) The Appellant is to pay the Council's costs of the appeal in Order (1). (3) The exhibits are returned. Catchwords: CRIMINAL – appeal from conviction in Local Court for tree clearing in breach of development consent for subdivision – more than one development consent in force for same lot – prosecutor proves beyond reasonable doubt that trees cleared in breach of development consent for subdivision – alternative hypothesis that manufactured home estate development consent relied on by defendant for clearing of trees not proven on balance of probabilities – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Crimes Appeal and Review Act 2001 (NSW) ss 31, 37, 49 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Pt 4 (s 4.53 (former s 95)), former s 76A Local Government Act 1919 (NSW) s 315 Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014 Cases Cited: Auburn Municipal Council v F N Eckold Pty Limited [1974] 2 NSWLR 148 Cando Management and Maintenance Pty Ltd v Cumberland Council (2019) 237 LGERA 128; [2019] NSWCA 26 Darley Australia Pty Ltd v Walfertan Processors Pty Ltd (2012) 188 LGERA 26; [2012] NSWCA 48 Hill v Woollahra Municipal Council (2003) 127 LGERA 7; [2003] NSWCA 106 Hunter Development Brokerage Pty Ltd v Cessnock City Council; Tovedale Pty Ltd v Shoalhaven City Council (2005) 63 NSWLR 124; [2005] NSWCA 169 K and M Prodanovski Pty Ltd v Wollongong City Council (2013) 195 LGERA 23; [2013] NSWCA 202 Ku-ring-gai Council v John David Chia (No 15) [2019] NSWLEC 1 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd (No 2) (2005) 141 LGERA 133; [2005] NSWLEC 241 Norlex Holdings Pty Ltd v Wingecarribee Shire Council (2010) 177 LGERA 261; [2010] NSWLEC 149 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (No 4) [2019] NSWLEC 58 Sutherland Shire Council v Benedict Industries Pty Ltd (No 8) [2017] NSWLEC 4 The Queen v Dookheea (2017) 262 CLR 402; [2017] HCA 36 Thomas v The Queen (1960) 102 CLR 584; [1960] HCA 2 Category: Principal judgment Parties: David De Battista (Appellant) Shoalhaven City Council (Respondent) Representation: COUNSEL: J Johnson (Appellant) A Pearman (Respondent)