Seek Justice Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning (No 2) [2024] NSWLEC 68

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Seek Justice Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning (No 2) [2024] NSWLEC 68 Hearing dates: 19 and 20 October 2023 Date of orders: 12 July 2024 Decision date: 12 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Pritchard J Decision: The Court makes the following orders: (1) The second further amended summons filed 14 July 2023 is dismissed. (2) The applicant to pay the third respondent's costs in the amount of $5,000. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — Consent — Validity — whether directions given by the Minister for Planning are invalid — whether there was a reasonable apprehension of bias — directions not invalid ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — Development application — Validity — whether the approval of the modification application is invalid — approval of the modification application not invalid ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — Consent — Conditions — whether the third respondent failed to comply with conditions 3 and 4 of the modified development consent — no relief granted COSTS — order that the applicant pay the third respondent's costs Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) s 98 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (as at 23 February 2018) ss 23J, 23K, 23L, 23I, 117 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (as at 30 June 2020) ss 2.17, 2.18, 2.19, 4.8, 9.1 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (as at 26 October 2022) ss 4.2, 4.5, 4.55 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) Ch 15, Pt 10 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 32 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) s 2A, Pt 12 Environmental Planning and Assessment (Greater Sydney Region Districts) Order 2017 (NSW) Land and Environment Court Rules 2007 (NSW) r 4.2 National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2019 (NSW) cl 25 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 42.1 Cases Cited: Alexander v Yass Valley Council (2011) 184 LGERA 123; [2011] NSWLEC 148 Aon Risk Services Australia Limited v Australian National University (2009) 239 CLR 175; [2009] HCA 27 Council of the City of Sydney v Mae [2009] NSWLEC 84 Creamoata Ltd v The Rice Equalization Association Ltd (1953) 89 CLR 286; [1953] HCA 40 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Great Lakes v Lani (2007) 158 LGERA 1; [2007] NSWLEC 681 Hill v Green (1999) 48 NSWLR 161; [1999] NSWCA 477 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 In the matter of Colour Metal Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1012 Isbester v Knox City Council (2015) 255 CLR 135; [2015] HCA 20 Lahoud v Willoughby City Council [2022] NSWCA 214 Manly Council v Malouf (2004) 61 NSWLR 394; (2004) 135 LGERA 24; [2004] NSWCA 299 McGovern v Ku-ring-gai Council (2008) 72 NSWLR 504; (2008) 161 LGERA 170; [2008] NSWCA 209 Michael Realty Pty Ltd v Carr [1975] 2 NSWLR 812 Parramatta City Council v RA Motors Pty Ltd (1986) 59 LGRA 121 Polsen v Harrison [2021] NSWCA 23 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R v City of Whyalla; Ex parte Kittel (1979) 20 SASR 386; (1979) 44 LGRA 371 Rivers SOS Inc v Minister for Planning (2009) 178 LGERA 437; [2009] NSWLEC 213 Rouse Hill Custodian Corporation Pty Ltd v Prisma Rouse Hill Development Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 48 Seek Justice Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning [2022] NSWCA 220 Seek Justice Pty Ltd v Minister for Planning [2022] NSWLEC 127 Sydney City Council v Claude Neon Ltd (1989) 15 NSWLR 724 Texts Cited: N Seddon & RA Bigwood, Cheshire & Fifoot: Law of Contract (12th edition, 2023) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Seek Justice Pty Ltd (Applicant) Minister for Planning (First Respondent) Blue Mountains Local Planning Panel/Blue Mountains City Council (Second Respondent) USM Events Pty Ltd (Third Respondent) Representation: Counsel: I Jeray, director of applicant (Applicant) M Harker (Third Respondent)