Friends of Gardiner Park Inc v Bayside Council [2020] NSWLEC 176

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Friends of Gardiner Park Inc v Bayside Council [2020] NSWLEC 176 Hearing dates: 7, 9 and 10 December 2020 Date of orders: 14 December 2020 Decision date: 14 December 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pepper J Decision: Application for interim injunctive relief refused. The Court notes the undertaking given by the Council not to remove or demolish the specified heritage items pending the final determination of the proceedings. Costs are reserved. Catchwords: INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION: application to restrain Council from upgrading sporting fields – whether consent needed to carry out upgrade – whether environmental impact statement required – whether undertaking not to demolish specific heritage items sufficient – whether upgrade remediation works requiring consent – whether plans of management breached by upgrade – whether future use of park after upgrade inconsistent with active recreation use under plans of management – whether irreparable harm to trees by upgrade – adverse dust, sedimentation, contamination and stormwater impacts if upgrade did not proceed - balance of convenience favoured the Council – interim relief refused. Legislation Cited: Environment Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 cl 228(1) and (2) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 5.5(1), 5.4(a), 5.7(1) and Pt 5 Div 5.1 Local Government Act 1993 s 35 Rockdale Local Environmental Plan 2011 Sch 5 State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 cll 5(2), 65(3) and Dictionary State Environmental Planning Policy No 55 – Remediation of Land cll 4(1), 9, 14 and 19 Cases Cited: Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group Inc v Dart Energy Ltd (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 38; (2013) 195 LGERA 229 Hakea Holdings Pty Ltd v Louisiana Properties Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 240; (2018) 98 NSWLR 439 Michael Ryan v Northern Regional Planning Panel (No 3) [2019] NSWLEC 168 Palm Beach Protection Group Incorporated v Northern Beaches Council [2020] NSWLEC 156 Parks and Playgrounds Movement Inc v Newcastle City Council [2010] NSWLEC 231; (2010) 179 LGERA 346 Positive Change for Marine Life Inc v Byron Shire Council (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 157 Shoalhaven City Council v Bridgewater Investments Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 103 Tegra (NSW) Pty Ltd v Gundagai Shire Council [2007] NSWLEC 806; (2007) 160 LGERA 1 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Friends of Gardiner Park Inc (Applicant) Bayside Council (First Respondent) Polytan Asia Pacific Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P King (Applicant) M Astill (First Respondent) L Nurpuri (Second Respondent)