Save the Robots Pty Ltd ATF Save the Robots Trust v The Council of the City of Sydney [2025] NSWLEC 1081

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Save the Robots Pty Ltd ATF Save the Robots Trust v The Council of the City of Sydney [2025] NSWLEC 1081 Hearing dates: 18, 19 September, 22 October and 1 November 2024 Date of orders: 14 February 2025 Decision date: 14 February 2025 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Thorpe AC Decision: The Court orders: (1) The Applicant is to pay the Respondent's costs thrown away as a result of the amendments to the application, pursuant to s 8.15(3) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as agreed or assessed. (2) The written request seeking to justify the contravention of the floor space ratio development standard at cl 4.4 of Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2014, prepared by Urbis and dated 21 August 2024, is upheld. (3) The appeal is upheld. (4) Development consent is granted to Development Application No D/2022/327 for café, restaurant, art gallery, hotel accommodation and rooftop bar uses at 191-195, 197-199 and 201 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, subject to the conditions of consent in Annexure A. (5) The following exhibits are returned: L, M, N, 5, R2-4. Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPEAL – mixed use development – digital advertising sign – existing use – heritage impacts – design excellence – transport and road safety impacts Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 4.11, 4.16, 4.65, 4.66, 4.67, 4.68, 8.7, 8.15, Div 9.3, Sch 5 Pt 1 Land and Environment Court Act 1979, ss 39, 64 Local Government Act 1919, s 311, Pt XXIIA Local Government Act 1993 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021, ss 38, 166 South Sydney Local Environmental Plan 1998 State Environmental Planning Policy No 64 – Advertising and Signage, cl 10 State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021, Ch 6, ss 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 6.10 State Environmental Planning Policy (Industry and Employment) 2021, Ch 3, ss 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.11, 3.15, 3.16, Sch 5 State Environmental Planning Policy (Resilience and Hazards) 2021, Ch 2, ss 2.10, 2.12, 2.13, 4.6 State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021, ss 2.119, 2.122 Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012, cll 3.6, 3.11, 3.15, 4.3, 4.4, 4.6, 5.10, 5.21, 6.21, 6.21C, 6.60D, 7.14 Cases Cited: APN Outdoor (Trading) Pty Limited v Melbourne City Council (2012) 187 LGERA 231; [2012] VSC 8 Ashfield MC v Armstrong (2002) 122 LGERA 105; [2002] NSWCA 269 Claude Neon Ltd v Sydney City Council (1986) 61 LGRA 195 Darley Australia v Walfertan Processors (2012) 188 LGERA 26; [2012] NSWCA 48 Grace v Thomas Street Café Pty Ltd (2007) 159 LGERA 57; [2007] NSWCA 359 Jojeni Investments v Mosman Council (2015) 208 LGERA 54; (2015) 89 NSWLR 760 Kensington and Norwood City Council v Claude Neon Ltd (1979) 22 SASR 91 Liverpool City Council v Maller Holdings Pty Ltd (2013) 211 LGERA 360; [2013] NSWLEC 154 MM & SW Enterprises Pty Ltd v Strathfield Council (2010) 172 LGERA 125; [2010] NSWLEC 8 oOh! Media Assets Pty Ltd v The Council of the City of Sydney and anor [2015] NSWLEC 1269 Parramatta City Council v Australian Posters Pty Limited (1986) 58 LGRA 213 South Sydney City Council v Nettlefold Advertising Pty Ltd [1998] NSWLEC 202 Stromness Pty Limited v Woollahra Municipal Council [2006] NSWLEC 587 Wollongong City Council v Ensile Pty Ltd (No 4) (2008) 71 NSWLR 563; [2008] NSWLEC 149 Texts Cited: Austroads Ltd, AP-R420-13 Impact of Roadside Advertising, 2013 on Road Safety Sydney Development Control Plan 2012 County of Cumberland Planning Scheme Ordinance City of Sydney Planning Scheme Ordinance Ordinance 55 NSW Department of Planning and Environment, Transport Corridor Outdoor Advertising and Signage Guidelines, 2017 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Save the Robots Pty Ltd ATF Save the Robots Trust ACN 616 226 272 (Applicant) The Council of the City of Sydney (First Respondent) Transport for NSW (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Pickles SC (Applicant) A Shearer SC (First Respondent) T Poisel (Second Respondent)