Save Sydney's Koalas (South West) Inc v Lendlease Communities (Figtree Hill) Pty Limited (No 2) [2021] NSWLEC 102

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Save Sydney's Koalas (South West) Inc v Lendlease Communities (Figtree Hill) Pty Limited (No 2) [2021] NSWLEC 102 Hearing dates: 26, 27 and 28 April 2021 Date of orders: 24 September 2021 Decision date: 24 September 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Duggan J Decision: See paragraphs 152 to 154 Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — development application — validity of consent — cl 6.3 of Campbelltown Local Environment Plan 2015 — whether development control plan provided for a staging plan — not essential or necessary that staging provides for multiple stages and sequencing — discretion not lead to invalidity of consent ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — extension of time for commencing proceedings — whether extension should be granted under r 59.10 of Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 — adequate explanation for delay — particular interest in challenging decision — potential prejudice to persons and public interest — leave not granted for extension ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — development application — validity of consent — application of ss 8.3 and 8.4 of Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 — whether biodiversity certification operated such that cl 10 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Koala Habitat Protection) 2020 had no operative effect on consent — effect of Biodiversity Certification – cl 10 State Environmental Planning Policy (Koala Habitat Protection) 2020 not a mandatory consideration — leave to further amend summons refused — summons dismissed Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW) Biodiversity Conservation (Saving and Transitional) Regulation 2017 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (NSW) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NSW) v Quin (1990) 170 CLR 1 Baini v The Queen (2012) 246 CLR 469 Bob Brown Foundation Inc v Commonwealth of Australia (2021) 386 ALR 1 Brown v Forestry Tasmania (No 4) (2006) 157 FCR 1 Clegg v Western Australia (No 2) (2017) 265 A Crim R 201 Collector of Customs v Agfa-Gevaert Ltd (1996) 186 CLR 389 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd (1993) 43 FCR 280 Elliott v Minister Administering Fisheries Management Act 1994 (2018) 97 NSWLR 1082 Enfield City Corporation v Development Assessment Commission (2000) 199 CLR 135 Friends of Turramurra Inc v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWLEC 128 Gilmore Finance Pty Ltd v Aesthete No 3 Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 114 Homeworld Ballina Pty Ltd v Ballina Shire Council (2010) 172 LGERA 211 Markell v Wollaston (1906) 4 CLR 141 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 Pepsi Seven-up Bottlers Perth Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1995) 62 FCR 289 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 Re McBain; Ex parte Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (2002) 209 CLR 372 Stocks & Parkes Investments Pty Ltd v Minister [1971] 1 NSWLR 932 The Australian Gas Light Co v The Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 Warringah Shire Council v Sedevcic (1987) 10 NSWLR 335 Whitton v Falkiner (1915) 20 CLR 118 XYZ v The Commonwealth (2006) 227 CLR 532 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary, 8th edition (2020) Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition (online) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Save Sydney's Koalas (South West) Inc (Applicant) Lendlease Communities (Figtree Hill) Pty Limited (First Respondent) Campbelltown City Council Local Planning Panel (Second Respondent) Campbelltown City Council (Third Respondent) The Secretary, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (Fourth Respondent) Mt Gilead Pty Limited (Fifth Respondent) Lendlease Communities (Figtree Hill No. 3) Pty Limited (Sixth Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Walker and J Holt (Applicant) N Williams SC and A Shearer (First and Sixth Respondents) Submitting Appearance (Second Respondent) J Lazarus SC with T Phillips (Third Respondent) D Hume (Fourth Respondent) Submitting Appearance (Fifth Respondent)