Wechsler v Lane Cove Council [2023] NSWLEC 1083

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wechsler v Lane Cove Council [2023] NSWLEC 1083 Hearing dates: 26 September, 25 October and 16 November 2022 Date of orders: 24 February 2023 Decision date: 24 February 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Espinosa C Decision: The Court orders that: In respect of Proceedings 2022/197002: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) Development application No DA40/2022 seeking development consent for the extension of an existing fence is determined by refusal of consent. In respect of Proceedings 2022/204518: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) Application for Building Information Certificate No. BIC-6391 is determined by refusal to issue a Building Information Certificate. In respect of Proceedings 2022/50716: (1) The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPEAL – masonry wall – boundary fence –insufficient information to assess the development application – merit assessment - impact on views – privacy - orders BUILDING INFORMATION CERTIFICATE APPEAL – insufficient information to assess the application – notional merit assessment - orders DEVELOPMENT CONTROL ORDER APPEAL – unauthorised works – masonry wall – stop work order – estoppel - orders Legislation Cited: Civil Procedures Act 2005 s 26 Dividing Fences Act 1991 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 4.15, 6.26, 8.7, 8.18, 8.25, 9.34, 9.36, Div 9.13, Sch 5 Pts 1, 4 Land and Environment Court Act 1979, s 39 Land and Environment Court Rules 2007, r 7.7 Lane Cove Local Environmental Plan 2009, cl 11.2 State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 s 6.38, chs 6 8,9, 10, 11 State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008, s 2.33 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, rr 31.19,31.20,31.24, Pt 31 Div 2 Cases Cited: Casa v City of Ryde Council [2009] NSWLEC 212 Hunter Industrial Rental Equipment Pty Ltd v Dungog Shire Council [2019] NSWCA 147 Ireland v Cessnock City Council [1999] 110 LGERA 311; 1999] NSWLEC 250 Lake Macquarie City Council v Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 114 Larney v Johannson [2013] NSWCA 409 Lee v Randwick City Council [2021] NSWLEC 1200 Weal v Bathurst City Council [2000] 111 LGERA 181; [2000] NSWCA 88 Council of City of Sydney v Waldorf Apartments Hotel Sydney Pty Limited (2008) 158 LGERA 67 Re Minister for Immigration & Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Lam (2003) 214 CLR 1 Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth (1977) 139 CLR 54 Texts Cited: Sydney Harbour Foreshores and Waterways Area Development Control Plan 2005 Lane Cove Development Control Plan 2010 Thomson Reuters, Estoppel Failure to Exercise Discretion, Update 295, page 1146, at 2.4.3200 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Wechsler (First Applicant) Katie Wechsler (Second Applicant) Lane Cove Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Litigant in person (First Applicant) R Wechsler (Agent for Second Applicant) J P Merlino (Solicitor) (Respondent)