Lahoud v Willoughby City Council [2024] NSWCA 163

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Lahoud v Willoughby City Council [2024] NSWCA 163 Hearing dates: 30 May 2024 Date of orders: 10 July 2024 Decision date: 10 July 2024 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Leeming JA at [2]; Preston CJ of LEC at [3] Decision: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) Contentions 2, 3 and 4 of the second respondent's notice of contention are upheld. (3) Order 3 of the orders of Moore J made on 2 November 2023 is set aside. (4) In lieu of order 3 of Moore J, the appellant as applicant is to pay the second respondent's costs of the proceedings in the Land and Environment Court. (5) The appellant is to pay the second respondent's costs of the proceedings in this court. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – Development consent for the adaptive reuse of existing commercial building – judicial review – building exceeds height standard – whether consent authority satisfied of cl 4.6 of Willoughby Local Environment Plan 2012 before granting development consent – whether consent authority satisfied building had active street frontage – whether development for permissible use of shop top housing – whether consent authority failed to consider if land is contaminated LIMITATION OF ACTIONS – Whether proceedings time-barred – time limit of three months after public notice in accordance with regulations published – earlier notifications not notices in accordance with regulations Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 4.8, 4.16, 4.17, 4.59, 9.1, 9.46 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), ss 25B, 58 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (NSW), cl 124 State Environmental Planning Policy 55 – Remediation of Land, cl 7 Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012, cll 4.3, 4.6, 6.7, Dictionary Cases Cited: ACR Trading Pty Ltd v Fat-Sel Pty Ltd (1987) 11 NSWLR 67 Arco Iris Trading Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2015] NSWLEC 1113 Australian Gas Light Co v Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 Chamwell Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council (2007) 151 LGERA 400; [2007] NSWLEC 114 El Khouri v Gemaveld Pty Ltd (2023) 256 LGERA 24; [2023] NSWCA 78 Fordham v Environment Protection Agency [2018] NSWCA 167 Hope v Bathurst City Council (1980) 144 CLR 1 Lahoud v Willoughby City Council [2022] NSWLEC 125 Lahoud v Willoughby City Council [2022] NSWCA 214 LPDT v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs & Anor [2024] HCA 12 NSW Associated Blue-Metal Quarries Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1956) 94 CLR 509 Parramatta City Council v Hale (1982) 47 LGRA 319 Woolworths Ltd v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd (2004) 61 NSWLR 707; [2004] NSWCA 422 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Victor Lahoud (Appellant) Willoughby City Council (First Respondent) Helm Pty Ltd (ACN 142 328 309) (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Robertson SC and N Wootton (Appellant) A Galasso SC and H Grace (Second Respondent)