Chu v Inner West Council [2022] NSWLEC 14

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chu v Inner West Council [2022] NSWLEC 14 Hearing dates: 18 November 2021 Decision date: 24 February 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Pain J Decision: See [58], [142] Catchwords: APPEAL – question of law in Class 1 merits appeal –COVID-19 Legislation Amendment (Emergency Measures – Miscellaneous) Act 2020 (NSW) does not extend the lapsing period for complying development certificates – statutory construction of Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 4.29, 4.53 APPEAL – question of law in Class 1 merits appeal – whether complying development certificate physically commenced within time – visual inspection by asbestos consultant not physical commencement APPEAL – question of law in Class 1 merits appeal – whether complying development certificate physically commenced within time – tree pruning not physical commencement because terms of complying development certificate not complied with Legislation Cited: COVID-19 Legislation Amendment (Emergency Measures – Miscellaneous) Act 2020 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 1.4, 1.5, 4.9, Pt 4 Div 4.5, 4.25, 4.26, 4.27, 4.28, 4.29, Pt 4 Div 4.9, 4.53, 4.54, 8.18, 9.34, (former) s 95 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (NSW), Pt 7 Div 2A, cll 136AB, 136B, 136E, 136N Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 6, 10, 33, 35 State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (NSW), cl 7.3, Sch 6 Pt 1, Sch 9 Pt 1 Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (NSW), cl 458 Cases Cited: Attorney General for the State of New South Wales v XY [2014] NSWCA 466 Cando Management and Maintenance Pty Ltd v Cumberland Council (2019) 237 LGERA 128; [2019] NSWCA 26 Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (NSW) v Qantas Airways Ltd (2009) 74 NSWLR 181; [2009] NSWCA 163 Cumberland Council v Cando Management and Maintenance Pty Ltd [2018] 11 NSWLEC 83 De Battista v Shoalhaven City Council [2020] NSWLEC 164 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (NSW) v Mutton (1988) 12 NSWLR 104 Green v Kogarah Municipal Council (2001) 115 LGERA 231; [2001] NSWCA 123 Henry v Shellharbour City Council and Others [2005] NSWLEC 378 Hunter Development Brokerage Pty Ltd v Cessnock City Council (2005) 63 NSWLR 124; [2005] NSWCA 169 Iron Gates Developments Pty Ltd v Richmond- Evans Environmental Society Inc (1992) 81 LGERA 132 K&M Prodanovski Pty Ltd v Wollongong City Council (2013) 195 LGERA 23; [2013] NSWCA 202 Norlex Holdings Pty Ltd v Wingecarribee Shire Council (2010) 177 LGERA 261; [2010] NSWLEC 149 Owendale Pty Ltd v Anthony (1967) 117 CLR 539; [1967] HCA 52 Parramatta City Council v Brickworks Ltd (1972) 128 CLR 1; [1972] HCA 21 SAS Trustee Corporation v Peter Miles (2018) 265 CLR 137; [2018] HCA 55 Sharp v Hunters Hill Council (2002) 120 LGERA 155; [2002] NSWLEC 27 Sydney Seaplanes Pty Ltd v Page (2021) 393 ALR 485; [2021] NSWCA 204 Thiess v Collector of Customs (2014) 250 CLR 664; [2014] HCA 12 Texts Cited: Second Reading Speech to the COVID-19 Legislation Amendment (Emergency Measures—Miscellaneous) Bill 2020 (New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 12 May 2020 at 2032-2037) Inner West Council, Tree Management Development Control Plan (11 February 2020) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Wallace Chu (First Applicant) Sylvia Attard (Second Applicant) Inner West Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Leggat SC (First and Second Applicants) J Johnson (Respondent)