Commitment Pty Ltd v Georges River Council [2022] NSWLEC 87

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Commitment Pty Ltd v Georges River Council [2022] NSWLEC 87 Hearing dates: 13 July 2022 Date of orders: 13 July 2022 Decision date: 15 July 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Pepper J Decision: Separate question ordered and consequential timetabling directions made. See orders at [62]. Catchwords: SEPARATE QUESTION: whether a question should be determined separately – applicable legal principles – question if resolved in favour of the Council is entirely dispositive of the proceedings – substantial savings in terms of expert evidence and costs if separate question ordered – utility of s 34 conciliation eroded if separate question not ordered – application granted. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 56 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, cll 50(1), 50(9) Georges River Development Control Plan 2021, cll 1.2, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 3.13 Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021, cll 1.1AA, 1.8, 1.8A, 6.10, 6.12 Hurstville Development Control Plan No 1 Hurstville Local Environmental Plan 2012 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, r 28.2 Cases Cited: 820 Cawdor Road Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council (2013) 195 LGERA 170; [2013] NSWLEC 8 Allandale Blue Metal Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Services (2013) 195 LGERA 182; [2013] NSWCA 103 CK Design Pty Ltd v Penrith City Council [2022] NSWLEC 82 Johnson Property Group Pty Limited v Lake Macquarie City Council [2020] NSWLEC 4 Lawson v Minister for Environment and Water (South Australia) and the State of New South Wales [2022] NSWLEC 50 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Commitment Pty Ltd (Applicant) Georges River Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Guy (Applicant) K Mezinec (Respondent)