Blues Point Hotel Property Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2021] NSWLEC 27

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Blues Point Hotel Property Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2021] NSWLEC 27 Hearing dates: 8 and 9 February 2021 Date of orders: 31 March 2021 Decision date: 31 March 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Duggan J Decision: See paragraph 112 Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – existing use rights – whether existing use of premises as a hotel extends to the first floor outdoor terrace ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – characterisation of existing use – s 4.65 EP&A Act – use defined by reference to Liquor Act 1912 – whole of building used for purposes of a hotel ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – continuation of existing use – construction of s 4.66(2)(b) EP&A Act – extent to which area was actually physically lawfully used prior to date use prohibited ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – enlargement expansion or intensification or an existing use – s 4.66(2)(c) – ordinary meaning – extent of hotel use prior to date use prohibited Legislation Cited: Cumberland Planning Scheme Ordinance 1951 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Interim Development Order 57 1975 Liquor Act 1912 Liquor Act Regulations 1922 North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2001 North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2013 North Sydney Planning Scheme Ordinance 1963 North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 1989 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 Cases Cited: Auburn Council v Nehme (1999) 106 LGERA 19 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v O'Donnell (1990) 69 LGRA 404 Foodbarn Pty Ltd v Solicitor-General (1975) 32 LGRA 157 Hudak v Waverley Municipal Council (1990) 70 LGRA 130 Hunter Industrial Rental Equipment Pty Ltd v Dungog Shire Council (2019) 241 LGERA 321 Jojeni Investments v Mosman Municipal Council (2015) 89 NSWLR 760 Kayora Pty Ltd v Leichhardt Council [2010] NSWCA 35 Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales v Sydney City Council (1987) 61 LGRA 305 South Sydney City Council v Houlakis and Teakdale Pty Ltd (1996) 92 LGERA 401 Sydney City Council v Ke-su Investments Pty Ltd and Others (No 2) (1983) 51 LGRA 186 Turnbull Group v North Sydney Council (1998) 101 LGERA 354 Vaughan-Taylor v David Mitchell-Melcann Pty Ltd and Minister for Minerals and Energy (1991) 73 LGRA 366 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary (online) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Blues Point Hotel Property Pty Ltd (First Applicant) Blues Point Hotel Property No. 2 Pty Ltd (Second Applicant) North Sydney Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Pickles SC and Ms L Sims (First and Second Applicants) Mr T To (Respondent)