Burwood Council v Ralan Burwood Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 173

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Burwood Council v Ralan Burwood Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 173 Hearing dates: 25, 26, and 27 March; 2, 3, 4, 9, 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, and 30 April 2013; 14 May 2013; 13 August 2013; further written submissions 28 August 2013 Decision date: 16 October 2013 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Sheahan J Decision: 1. Council's Third Further Amended Summons is dismissed. 2. All exhibits are returned. 3. The Council is ordered to pay the costs of all three respondents on a party-party basis, as agreed or assessed, unless within 21 days any one or more of the parties file(s) motion(s) seeking different costs orders. Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW: application by Council for (1) declarations of invalidity of construction certificates, (2) declarations that developer in breach of Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and (3) orders for remedial work - validity of certificates - do changes to a project agreed by a certifier make the development "inconsistent" with the consent - whether orders can be made against those not in breach of the Act - whether developer is vicariously responsible for acts of others - utility of declarations - discretion - costs Legislation Cited: Architects Act 2003 Building and Construction Industry Long Service Payments Act 1986 Building Professionals Act 2005 Conveyancing Act 1919 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Home Building Act 1989 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2010 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 Cases Cited: Abret Pty Limited v Wingecarribee Shire Council [2009] NSWLEC 132 Abret Pty Limited v Wingecarribee Shire Council [2011] NSWCA 107; 180 LGERA 343 Ashfield Council v Andrews (1986) 60 LGRA 248 Blue Mountains Conservation Society Inc v Delta Electricity (No 3) [2011] NSWLEC 145; (2011) 81 NSWLR 407 Botany Bay City Council v Ralansaab Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 225; (2010) 178 LGERA 44 Botany Bay City Council v Saab Corp Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 308; (2011) 183 LGERA 228 Cessnock City Council v Laila [2012] NSWLEC 206 CTI Joint Venture Company Pty Ltd v CRI Chatswood Pty Ltd (In Liq) (Receivers and Managers Appointed) (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 6 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Jack & Bill Issa Pty Ltd (No 5) [2009] NSWLEC 232; (2009) 172 LGERA 225 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 73 Director-General, NSW Department of Industry & Investment v Mato Investments Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 227 Environment Protection Authority v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 70, (2003) 128 LGERA 240 Evans v Accident Insurance Mutual Holdings Ltd [1998] 2 Qd R 350 Ex parte Parker; Re Brotherson [1957] SR (NSW) 326 Friends of Turramurra Inc v Minister for Planning [2011] NSWLEC 128 Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group Incorporated v Dart Energy Ltd (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 38; (2013) 195 LGERA 229 Giorgianni v The Queen [1985] HCA 29; (1985) 156 CLR 473 Great Lakes Council v Lani; Great Lakes Council v Lani and Lampo Pty Limited [2007] NSWLEC 681 Hatton v Beaumont [1977] 2 NSWLR 211 Hillpalm Pty Ltd v Heaven's Door Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 59; (2004) 220 CLR 472 Holroyd City Council v Murdoch (I994) 82 LGERA 197 Klefend Pty Ltd v Santom Pty Ltd [1994] NSWLEC 201; (1994) 88 LGERA 307 Kogarah City Council v Armstrong Alliance Pty Ltd (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 32 Lesnewski v Mosman Municipal Council [2005] NSWLEC 99; (2005) 138 LGERA 207 Marvan Properties v Randwick City Council [2005] NSWLEC 9 Murdoch v Holroyd City Council (unreported, 20 November 1996) Newcastle City Council v Northern Residential Pty Ltd [2009] 165 LGERA 274; (2009) NSWLEC 10 North Sydney Council v Moline (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 169 North Sydney Municipal Council v Ekstein (1985) 54 LGRA 440 Northern Residential Pty Ltd v Newcastle City Council [2009] NSWCA 141; (2009) 75 NSWLR 192 Pearce v Brooks (1866) LR I Ex 213 at 217 Progress and Properties Pty Ltd v Burwood Council [2008] NSWLEC 1178 Progress and Securities Building Pty Ltd v Burwood Council [2006] NSWLEC 518 Progress and Securities Building Pty Ltd v Burwood Council (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 135; (2008) 158 LGERA 102 Progress and Securities Pty Ltd v Burwood Council [2006] NSWLEC 706 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 Rochford Rural District Council v Port of London Authority [1914] 2 KB 916 Rossi v Living Choice Australia Ltd (No 3) [2013] NSWLEC 46 Sahade v Mosman Municipal Council [2000] NSWCA 251 Smith v Wyong Shire Council [2003] NSWCA 322; (2003) 132 LGERA 148 WD & HO Wills (Australia) Ltd v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (1998) 43 NSWLR 338 Wilkie v Blacktown City Council and Others [2002] NSWCA 284, (2002) 121 LGERA 444 Wollondilly Shire Council v Foxman Environmental Development Services Pty Ltd (No 5) [2013] NSWLEC 68 Woods v Bate (1986) 7 NSWLR 560 Woolworths Ltd v The Warehouse Group (Australia) Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 31; (2003) 123 LGERA 341 Wright v West Torrens City Corporation (1996) 91 LGERA 197 Ying v Song [2009] NSWSC 1344 Yorke v Lucas [1985] HCA 65; (1985) 158 CLR 661 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Burwood Council (Applicant) Ralan Burwood Pty Ltd (1st Respondent) Lyall Dix (2nd Respondent) John Morgan (3rd Respondent) Representation: Mr P Clay SC with Mr S Nash, barrister (Applicant) Mr P Tomasetti SC with Mr J Johnson, barrister (Respondents) Houston Dearn O'Connor (Applicant) Storey & Gough (Respondents) File Number(s): 40091 of 2013