Tovir Investments Pty Ltd v Waverley Council [2014] NSWCA 379

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Tovir Investments Pty Ltd v Waverley Council [2014] NSWCA 379 Hearing dates: 28 October 2014 Decision date: 06 November 2014 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Macfarlan JA at [46] Leeming JA at [47] Decision: (1) Dismiss the appeal. (2) Order that the appellants pay the respondent's costs in this Court. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING - use of building - temporary accommodation for backpackers - use of contempt proceedings to enforce prohibition on use the subject of consent orders

PROCEDURE - Land and Environment Court - civil contempt - consent orders made restraining use of premises for "backpackers accommodation" - whether evidence established the premises were being used for "backpackers accommodation" as defined by local environmental plan - whether trial court could rely on failure of defendants to give evidence

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - definition in statute - use of defined term to inform definition - whether such use permissible - whether definition to be construed separately from its operative provision

WORDS AND PHRASES - "backpackers accommodation" - "temporary accommodation" - Waverley Local Environmental Plan 1996 Cases Cited: Barangaroo Delivery Authority v Lend Lease (Millers Point) Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 279 Birmingham City Council v Walker [2007] 2 AC 262 Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd [2009] 1 AC 1101 Charter Reinsurance Co Ltd v Fagan [1997] AC 313 Commissioner of Police v Kennedy [2007] NSWCA 328; 5 DDCR 380 Doyle v The Commonwealth [1985] HCA 46; 156 CLR 510 Gibb v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [1966] HCA 74; 118 CLR 628 Gill v Donald Humberstone & Co Ltd [1963] 3 All ER 180 Hardy Wine Company Ltd v Janevruss Pty Ltd [2006] VSCA 28 Hinch v Attorney-General (Vic) [1987] HCA 56; 164 CLR 15 Kelly v The Queen [2004] HCA 12; 218 CLR 216 Lennard v Jessica Estates Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 121; 71 NSWLR 306 Mainteck Services Pty Ltd v Stein Heurtey SA [2014] NSWCA 184; 310 ALR 113 Marina Bay Developments Pty Ltd v Pittwater Council [2007] NSWLEC 41 Marks v Commonwealth (1964) 111 CLR 549 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 323 The Owners of the Ship 'Shin Kobe Maru' v Empire Shipping Company Inc [1994] HCA 54; 181 CLR 404 Wacal Developments Pty Ltd v Realty Developments Pty Ltd [1978] HCA 30 Waverley Council v Tovir Investments Pty Ltd & Rappaport [2012] NSWLEC 209 Witham v Holloway [1995] HCA 3; 183 CLR 525 Texts Cited: D C Pearce and R S Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (8th ed, 2014, LexisNexis) at [6.58] Category: Principal judgment Parties: Tovir Investments Pty Ltd (First Appellant) Michael Rappaport (Second Appellant) Waverley Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr TGR Parker SC/Mr AM Gruzman (Appellants) Mr A Gallaso SC (Respondent)