Australex Group Pty Ltd v Fairfield City Council [2022] NSWLEC 1685

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Australex Group Pty Ltd v Fairfield City Council [2022] NSWLEC 1685 Hearing dates: 29 and 30 September 2022 Date of orders: 09 December 2022 Decision date: 09 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Walsh C Decision: The Court orders: (1) The Appeal is upheld. (2) Development Application No. 134.1/2021 for a two-storey boarding house comprising 12 double occupancy boarding rooms, including one boarding manager room at 89 The Promenade, Old Guildford (Lot 3 DP 35091), is approved subject to the conditions in Annexure A. (3) Exhibits are retained with the exception of the following which are returned: Exhibits 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, E, F, H and J. Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – boarding house – interpretation of standard definition of gross floor area – contravention of floor space ratio standard – built form character – acoustic considerations – vehicle access considerations Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 1.3, 1.4, 8.7, 8.15 Fairfield Local Environmental Plan 2013, cl 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 Land and Environment Court Act 1979, s 39 Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006) State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009, cl 30, Div 3 State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 Cases Cited: Britely Property Pty Ltd v Randwick City Council (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 1389 Ceerose Pty Ltd v Inner West Council [2017] NSWLEC 1289 Cracknell & Lonergan Architects v Marrickville Council [2014] NSWLEC 1000 Cranbrook School v Woollahra Council [2006] NSWCA 155 GGD Danks Street P/L and CR Danks Street P/L v Council of the City of Sydney [2015] NSWLEC 1521 Haralambis Management Pty Ltd v Council of the City of Sydney [2013] NSWLEC 1009 HPG Mosman Projects Pty Ltd v Mosman Municipal Council [2021] NSWLEC 1243 Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2018] NSWLEC 118 Intrapak Skennars Head Pty Ltd v Ballina Shire Council [2021] NSWLEC 1006 Landmark Group Australia Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2016] NSWLEC 1577 Toga Penrith Developments Pty Limited v Penrith City Council [2022] NSWLEC 117 Wehbe v Pittwater Council (2007) 156 LGERA 446; [2007] NSWLEC 827 Texts Cited: Australian Building Codes Board, National Construction Code Fairfield Development Control Plan 2013 Fairfield Local Planning Panel Category: Principal judgment Parties: Australex Group Pty Ltd Fairfield City Council Representation: Counsel: J Lazarus SC (Applicant) A Seton (Solicitor) (Respondent)