Port Stephens Council v SS & LM Johnston Pty Ltd; Port Stephens Council v Port Stephens Veterans and Citizens Aged Care Limited [2007] NSWLEC 30

Reported Decision : (2007) 152 LGERA 193

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Port Stephens Council v SS & LM Johnston Pty Ltd; Port Stephens Council v Port Stephens Veterans and Citizens Aged Care Limited [2007] NSWLEC 30

Proceedings 50019 of 2006

PROSECUTOR Port Stephens Council DEFENDANT SS & LM Johnston Pty Ltd PARTIES : Proceedings 50020 of 2006

PROSECUTOR Port Stephens Council DEFENDANT Port Stephens Veterans and Citizens Aged Care Limited

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50019 of 2006; 50020 of 2006

CORAM: Jagot J

KEY ISSUES: Prosecution :- clearing - whether development consent required - whether exempt development - onus of proof - evidential burden

Dividing Fences Act 1991 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 LEGISLATION CITED: Interpretation Act 1987 Rural Fires Act 1997 State Environmental Planning Policy No 44 – Koala Habitat Port Stephens Local Environmental Plan 2000

City of Sydney Council v Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust [2004] NSWLEC 285; Director General, Department of Land and Water Conservation v Bailey (2003) 136 LGERA 242; Electricity Commission of New South Wales v Environment Protection Authority (1992) 28 NSWLR 494; Environment Protection Authority v Land and Environment Court (NSW) (2004) 134 LGERA 140; Environment Protection Authority v Leaghur Holdings Pty Ltd (1995) 87 LGERA 282; CASES CITED: Gibb v The Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia (1966) 118 CLR 628; Jolly v The District Council of Yorketown (1967) 119 CLR 347; Mulcahy v Blue Mountains City Council (1993) 81 LGERA 302; Tickner and Others v Chapman and Others (1995) 57 FCR 451; Woolworths Ltd v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd and Another (2004) 61 NSWLR 707; Youssef v R (1990) 50 A Crim R 1