Muscat Developments Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2021] NSWLEC 1738

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Muscat Developments Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2021] NSWLEC 1738 Hearing dates: 2-6 August 2021 Date of orders: 2 December 2021 Decision date: 02 December 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Horton C Decision: See orders at [341]-[347] Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – biodiversity development assessment – Guidelines for controlled activities on waterfront land – riparian zone – sensitive land – biodiversity offsets scheme – likely impact of the proposed development on biodiversity values – remediation of land – asbestos containing material – likely off site impacts of development – building information certificate Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, ss 6.5, 6.12, 7.7, 7.13, 7.16 Biodiversity Conservation Regulation 2017, cll 6.7, 7.1 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 4.15, 4.16, 6.25, 8.7, 8.25, 9.34 Fisheries Management Act 1994 Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2014 State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 State Environmental Planning Policy (Koala Habitat Protection) 2020 State Environmental Planning Policy No 55 – Remediation of Land, cl 7 Water Management Act 2000 Wollondilly Shire Council Local Environmental Plan 2011, cll 7.3, 7.5 Cases Cited: Ballina Shire Council v Palm Lake Works Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 41 Chami v Lane Cove Council [2015] NSWLEC 1003 Ireland v Cessnock City Council (1999) 110 LGERA 311; [1999] NSWLEC 250 Jonah v Pittwater Council (2006) 144 LGERA 408; [2006] NSWLEC 99 Kouflidis v Salisbury City Corp (1982) 29 SASR 321; (1982) 49 LGRA 17 Nalor Pty Ltd v Bankstown City Council [1980] 2 NSWLR 630 Ralph Lauren Pty Ltd v New South Wales Transitional Coastal Panel; Stewartville Pty Ltd v New South Wales Transitional Coastal Panel; Robert Watson v New South Wales Transitional Coastal Panel [2018] NSWLEC 207 Sofi v Wollondilly Shire Council [1975] 2 NSWLR 614 Taipan Holdings Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [1999] NSWLEC 276 Texts Cited: AS 1597.2-2013, Precast reinforced concrete box culverts, Part 2: Large culverts (exceeding 1200 mm span or 1200 mm height and up to and including 4200 mm span and 4200 mm height) AS5100.1:2017 'Bridge design, Part 1: Scope and general principles' NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Biodiversity Assessment Method, (2020) NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water, Guidelines for Vegetation Management Plans on waterfront land, (July 2012) NSW Department of Primary Industries, Office of Water, Guidelines for watercourse crossings on NSW Environment Protection Authority, Recovered Glass Sand Exemption 2014, (November 2014) NSW Environmental Protection Authority, Guidelines for the NSW Site Auditor Scheme, (October 2017) NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator, Guidelines for controlled activities on waterfront land, Riparian Corridors, (May 2018) Wollondilly Shire Council Development Control Plan 2016 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Muscat Developments Pty Ltd (Applicant) Wollondilly Shire Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Miller SC with J Smith (Applicant) M Astill with M Harker (Respondent)