GPT Re Limited v Wollongong City Council & Anor [2006] NSWLEC 303

Reported Decision : 151 LGERA 116 [2007] NSWCA 171; 153 LGERA 450 (CA)

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : GPT Re Limited v Wollongong City Council & Anor [2006] NSWLEC 303 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

APPLICANT: GPT Re Limited

PARTIES : FIRST RESPONDENT: Wollongong City Council

SECOND RESPONDENT: Belmorgan Property Development Pty Limited

FILE NUMBER(S) : 41279 of 2005

CORAM: Biscoe J

KEY ISSUES: Judicial Review :- Validity of development consent - validity of council resolution delegating authority to approve, but not to refuse, development application - validity of deferred commencement conditions - consideration of matters required to be considered under Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 79C – consideration of effect of proposed development on heritage items – whether delegate formed opinion required to be formed under Wollongong Local Environmental Plan 1990 cl 9(3) – whether delegate, as required by SEPP 1 cl 7, was satisfied that objection was well founded and was of opinion that consent was consistent with aims of that policy.

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) s 34AB Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 79C, 80, 80A, 83B, 124 LEGISLATION CITED: Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) ss 33, 49 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) ss 7, 21, 22, 355, 373, 377, 378 Migration Act 1958 (Cth) s 66D

Attorney-General (Ex rel Goddard) v North Sydney Municipal Council [1971] 2 NSWLR 373; Botany Bay Council v Remath Investments Pty Ltd (CA, 16 December 1998, unreported); Cameron v Nambucca Shire Council (1997) 95 LGERA 268; Canada Bay City Council v Optus Mobile Pty Ltd [2004] NSWLEC 611; Centro Properties Ltd v Hurstville City Council (2004) 135 LGERA 257; Clifford v Wyong Shire Council (1996) 89 LGERA 240; Currey v Sutherland Shire Council (1998) 100 LGERA 365; Currey v Sutherland Shire Council [2002] NSWLEC 195; Everall v Ku-Ring-Gai Municipal Council (1991) 72 LGERA 369; Franklins Ltd v Penrith City Council [1999] NSWCA 134; Fuller v Bellingen Shire Council (Hemmings J, NSWLEC, 16 June 1988, unreported); Gee v Councillors of the City of Sydney [2004] NSWLEC 581; Hill v Woollahra Municipal Council (2002) 127 LGERA 7; Hooker Corporation Pty Ltd v Hornsby Shire Council (1986) 130 LGERA 438; Kindimindi Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Cove Council (2006) 143 LGERA 277; Lyons v Sutherland Shire Council (2000) 110 LGERA 441; Lyons v Sutherland Shire Council (2001) 117 LGERA 334; Manly Council v Hortis (2001) 113 LGERA 321; Marnal Pty Ltd v Cessnock City Council (1989) 68 LGRA 135; Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24 ; CASES CITED: Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning v Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd (1996) 91 LGERA 31; Mison v Randwick Municipal Council [1991] 23 NSWLR 734; Noble v Cowra Shire Council (2003) 129 LGERA 120; O'Reilly v State Bank of Victoria Commissioners (1983) 153 CLR 1; Pancho Properties Pty Ltd v Wingecarribee Shire Council (1999) 110 LGERA 352; Parramatta City Council v Hale (1982) 47 LGRA 319; Patrick Autocare Pty Ltd v Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources [2004] NSWLEC 687; Randwick Municipal Council v Manousaki (1988) 66 LGRA 330; Schroders Australia Property Management Ltd v Shoalhaven City Council [2001] NSWCA 74; Scott v Wollongong City Council (1992) 75 LGRA 112; Singh v Castello (Spender J, FCA, 16 July 1990, unreported); Singh v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1989) 90 ALR 397; Somerville v Dalby (1990) 69 LGRA 422; Sumar Produce Pty Ltd v Griffith City Council [2000] NSWLEC 27; Transport Action Group Against Motorways Inc v Roads and Traffic Authority (1999) 46 NSWLR 598; Warehouse Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Woolworths Ltd (2005) 141 LGERA 376; Weal v Bathurst City Council (2000) (NSWLEC, 11 June 1999, Bignold J, unreported); Weal v Bathurst City Council (2000) 111 LGERA 181; Winn v Director General of National Parks and Wildlife (2001) 130 LGERA 508 ; Winten Property Group Limited v North Sydney Council (2001) 130 LGERA 79; Woolworths Ltd v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd (2004) 61 NSWLR 707; Wyong Shire Council v MCC Energy (2005) 139 LGERA 296