Smith v Wyong Shire Council [2003] NSWCA 322

Reported Decision : 132 LGERA 148

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Smith v Wyong Shire Council [2003] NSWCA 322 HEARING DATE(S) : 2 September 2003, 9 September 2003, JUDGMENT DATE : 22 December 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Sheller JA at 65; Tobias JA at 67 DECISION : (a) Appeal allowed; (b) Set aside the orders made by Bignold J on 25 October 2002; (c) Declare that Wyong Local Environmental Plan 1991 (Amendment No. 118) published in the New South Wales Government Gazette No. 168 on 22 December 2000 is invalid to the extent to which it purports to amend Wyong Local Environmental Plan 1991 by zoning as 2(c) (Medium Density Residential Zone) land located at The Entrance and Long Jetty which is zoned 2(d) (High Density Residential Zone) in the said Plan; (d) The first respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal and the proceedings in the Land and Environment Court

CATCHWORDS : Environmental planning and development - Statutory interpretation - Whether plan inconsistent with Ministerial Direction under s117 of EPAA - Whether Council had power to prepare a plan inconsistent with Ministerial Direction - Whether s 66(b) EPAA breached and whether breach leads to invalidity of plan - Whether provision of plan severable Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 36, 54(1), 55, 61, 65, 66(1), 68(4), 69, 70, 117 LEGISLATION CITED : Interpretation Act 1987, s9(2) Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (Cth), ss 35, 160 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 Harrington v Lowe (1996) 190 CLR 311 Olsen v City of Camberwell [1926] VLR 58 Dunkley v Evans [1981] 1 WLR 1522 Director of Public Prosecutions v Hutchinson [1990] 2 AC 783 Darling Casino v Minister for Planning and Sydney Harbour Casino Pty Ltd (1998) 86 LGERA 186 at 207 El Cheikh v Hurstville City Council (2002) 121 LGERA 293 Dunkerley v City of Nunawading (1957) VR 630 Woods v Bate (1987) 7 NSWLR 560 Hatton v Beaumont [1977] 2 NSWLR 211 Stradling v Morgan (1560) 1 Plowden 199 at 204 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 Vanmeld Pty Ltd v Fairfield City Council (1999) 46 NSWLR 78 Jessop v WRA Willcocks Pty Limited (1998) NSWLEC 106 Monaro Acclimatisation Society & Anor v The Minister (1989) NSWLEC 13 Asquith v The Minister for Planning (1989) NSWLEC 104 CASES CITED : Premier State Developments Pty Limited v North Sydney Council (1999) 140 LGERA 215 John Brown Lenton & Co Pty Limited v The Minister (1999) 106 LGERA 150 Coulter v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1 Multicon Engineering Pty Ltd v Federal Airports Corporation (1997) 47 NSW LR 631 Collings Construction Co Pty Ltd v ACCC (1998) 43 NSWLR 131 Eggins v Broomeshead Bowling and Recreational Club Limited (1986) 5 NSW LR 521 The Owners - Strata Plan No 13218 v Woollahra Municipal Council (2002) 117 LGERA 117 Geoffrey Twibill & Associates v Warringah Shire Council (1976) 51 LGRA 73 re Bolden; ex parte Beane (1987) 162 CLR 514 Byrne v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 R v Young (1999) 46 NSWLR 681 Tillmanns Butcheries Pty Ltd v Australian Meat Industry Employees' Union (1979) 42 FLR 331 Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act v Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council (No. 2) (2001) 113 LGERA 148 Curac v Shoalhaven City Council (1993) 81 LGERA 124 Scurr v Brisbane City Council (1973) 133 CLR 242 Litevale Pty Limited v Lismore City Council (1997) 96 LGERA 91 Pioneer Concrete (Qld) Pty Limited v Brisbane CityCouncil (1980) 145 CLR 485 Helman v Byron Shire Council (1995) 87 LGERA 349 at 360 PARTIES : Darcy Smith Wyong Shire Council & Another FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 41067/02 A: Mr P Tomasetti / Mr M Fraser COUNSEL : 1R: Mr B J Preston SC / Ms J Jagot 2R: Mr M Leeming A: Wilshire Webb SOLICITORS : 1R: Abbott Tout 2R: Ms Christine Hanson