El Khouri v Gemaveld Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 78

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: El Khouri v Gemaveld Pty Ltd [2023] NSWCA 78 Hearing dates: 6 April 2023 Decision date: 26 April 2023 Before: Gleeson JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [2]; Adamson JA at [80] Decision: Amended summons dismissed, with costs. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – judicial review of consent to build new dwelling house – consent granted following conciliation conference in Land and Environment Court – proposed development in fact exceeded height control – exceedance not clear from material before Land and Environment Court – Commissioner found on basis of evidence before him that proposed development did not exceed height control and could be granted in proper exercise of court's functions – applicants brought proceedings in supervisory jurisdiction of Supreme Court – applicants adduced fresh survey evidence establishing height control exceeded – whether compliance with height control a jurisdictional fact – whether prohibition in Local Environmental Plan applied of its own force – significance of consent being granted following conciliation conference as opposed to after a hearing – Ross v Lane [2022] NSWCA 235 considered and applied – compliance with height control not a jurisdictional fact – summons dismissed Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 60 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 3.16, 3.19, 3.27, 4.2, 4.3, 4.15, 4.16, 8.7, 8.14, 10.6 Georges River Local Environmental Plan 2021, cl 1.8A Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 21, Pts 5, 6 Kogarah Local Environmental Plan 2012, cll 4.3, 4.6 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), ss 4, 34 State Environmental Planning Policy 65 – Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development, cl 4 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 59.10 Cases Cited: Al Maha Pty Ltd v Huajun Investments Pty Ltd (2018) 233 LGERA 170; [2018] NSWCA 245 Anvil Hill Project Watch Association Inc v Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (2008) 166 FCR 54; [2008] FCAFC 3 AQC Dartbrook Management Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning and Public Spaces (2021) 105 NSWLR 152; [2021] NSWCA 112 Australian Heritage Commission v Mount Isa Mines Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 297; [1997] HCA 10 Clone Pty Ltd v Players Pty Ltd (in liq) (mgrs and recs apptd) (2018) 264 CLR 165; [2018] HCA 12 Cumerlong Holdings Pty Ltd v Dalcross Properties Pty Ltd (2011) 243 CLR 492; [2011] HCA 27 El Khouri v Gemaveld Pty Ltd [2023] NSWSC 25 Gedeon v Commissioner of the New South Wales Crime Commission (2008) 236 CLR 120; [2008] HCA 43 Gemaveld Pty Ltd v Georges River Council [2022] NSWLEC 1182 Nadinic v Drinkwater (2017) 94 NSWLR 518; [2017] NSWCA 114 Parisienne Basket Shoes Pty Ltd v Whyte (1938) 59 CLR 369; [1938] HCA 7 R v Australian Broadcasting Tribunal; Ex parte Hardiman (1980) 144 CLR 13; [1980] HCA 13 R v Judges of the Federal Court of Australia; Ex parte Pilkington ACI (Operations) Pty Ltd (1978) 142 CLR 113; [1978] HCA 60 R v Trade Practices Tribunal; Ex parte Tasmanian Breweries Pty Ltd (1970) 123 CLR 361; [1970] HCA 8 Ridley v Whipp (1916) 22 CLR 381; [1916] HCA 76 Ross v Lane [2022] NSWCA 235 SZFDE v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2007) 232 CLR 189; [2007] HCA 35 Timbarra Protection Coalition Inc v Ross Mining NL (1999) 46 NSWLR 55; [1999] NSWCA 8 Woolworths Ltd v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd (2004) 61 NSWLR 707; [2002] NSWCA 422 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter John El Khouri (First Applicant) Goumana Therese El Khouri (Second Applicant) Effi Theodorakopoulos (Third Applicant) Gemaveld Pty Ltd (First Respondent) Land and Environment Court (Second Respondent) Georges River Council (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Lazarus SC with J Farrell (Applicants) C Leggat SC with S Berveling and C Koikas (First Respondent)