Davis v Gosford City Council [2014] NSWCA 343

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Davis v Gosford City Council [2014] NSWCA 343 Hearing dates: 19 May 2014 Decision date: 03 October 2014 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Ward JA at [2]; Preston CJ of LEC at [3] Decision: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) The appellants are to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal to this Court. Catchwords: APPEAL - decision of judge of Land and Environment Court (LEC) dismissing appeal against decision of commissioners of LEC on questions of law - leave to appeal limited to two matters - whether judge and commissioners erred in their assessment of the degree of effect on threatened species required for refusal of development application - whether judge and commissioners failed to consider any concurrence of Director-General - relevant matters to consider in determining development application and grounds of refusal are not limited to an effect on threatened species that is likely to be a significant effect - no actual or assumed concurrence of Director-General to be considered - development not on critical habitat and not likely to significantly affect threatened species - consent to be refused not granted - no concurrence of Director-General required or able to be granted in these circumstances - commissioners and judge did not err on questions of law - appeal dismissed with costs Legislation Cited: Endangered Fauna (Interim Protection) Act 1991 s 4A Environmental and Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 4(1), 5A, 76, 76A, 76B, 77, 77A(1), 78, 78A, 79B(3), 79C, 80, 80A, 90, 97(3), 111, 112, 115N, Pt 2, Div 5 Pt 5 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000, cll 2(1), 4(1), 50, 51, 59, 62, 64, 91(2), 92; cll 1(1), 2(1), 2(4) of Pt 1, Sch 1, cl 7 of Sch 2, Sch 3 Fisheries Management Act 1994 s 220ZZA Land and Environment Court Act 1979, ss 39, 56A(1), 57(4)(c) Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 s 6(2) Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, ss 4, 94A, Div 2 of Pt 6 Cases Cited: BT Goldsmith Planning Services Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2005] NSWLEC 210 Carstens v Pittwater Council [1999] NSWLEC 249; (1999) 111 LGERA 1 Corowa v Geographe Point Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 121; (2007) 154 LGERA 117 Davis v Gosford City Council [2013] NSWLEC 49 Davis v Gosford City Council [2012] NSWLEC 1329 Davis v Gosford City Council [2012] NSWLEC 62 Michel Projects Pty Ltd v Randwick Municipal Council (1982) 46 LGRA 410 Minister for Planning v Walker [2008] NSWCA 224; (2008) 161 LGERA 423 Nambucca Valley Conservation Association v Nambucca Shire Council [2010] NSWLEC 38 Newcastle and Hunter Valley Speleological Society Inc v Upper Hunter Shire Council and Stoneco Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 48 Plumb v Penrith City Council [2002] NSWLEC 223 Telstra Corporation Ltd v Hornsby Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 133; (2006) 67 NSWLR 256; (2006) 146 LGERA 10 Timbarra Protection Coalition Inc v Ross Mining NL [1999] NSWCA 8; (1999) 46 NSWLR 55 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Raymond John Davis and Mrs Susanne Margaret Davis (Appellants) Gosford City Council (Respondent) Representation: Mr M R Hall (Barrister) with Mr T J Flaherty (Appellants) Ms S A Duggan SC with Mr M C Fraser (Respondent) Michael Flaherty (Solicitor) (Appellants) P J Donnellan & Co (Respondent) File Number(s): 140784 of 2013 Publication restriction: No Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9106 Citation: [2013] NSWLEC 49 Date of Decision: 2013-04-16 00:00:00 Before: Pepper J File Number(s): 11243 of 2012