Elachi v Council of the City of Shoalhaven [2016] NSWCA 15

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Elachi v Council of the City of Shoalhaven [2016] NSWCA 15 Hearing dates: 11 February 2016 Date of orders: 11 February 2016 Decision date: 18 February 2016 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Ward JA at [35]; Sackville AJA at [36] Decision: (1) Dismiss the appeal.

(2) The appellant to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT – clearing vegetation – whether development consent required to clear prescribed vegetation – whether an exemption for clearing native vegetation from land identified on the Clauses Map, cl 5.9(9A) Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014 – whether Shoalhaven Development Control Plan 2014, cl 5.2.3 is inconsistent or incompatible with, or overlaps Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014, cl 5.9(8) and (9A)

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT – clearing native vegetation on land with environmental zoning – whether consent required under Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014 – whether activity exempt under Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW) – whether offence under Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), s76A(1)

STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – principles – relationship between provisions in different statutes of same polity – legislation creating hierarchy of instruments – functional approach to provisions conferring power on different authorities – legislation limiting need for dual authorisations Legislation Cited: Constitution, s 109 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 4, 5, 13, 18, 21, 26, 33A, 74, 74C, 76A, 76B; Pt 3, Divs 1, 2, 6; Pt 4; Pt 5 Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW), ss 11, 12, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22; Pt 3, Divs 2, 3, 4 Native Vegetation Regulation 2013, cl 29 Shoalhaven Development Control Plan 2014, Ch G4; cll 1, 2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.4 Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 2014, cll 5.9, 5.9AA State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (NSW), cll 1.16, 2.35 Cases Cited: Coffs Harbour Environment Centre Inc v Minister for Planning (1994) 84 LGERA 324 Castle Constructions Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2007] NSWCA 164; 155 LGERA 52 Cullis v Ahern (1914) 18 CLR 540 Sweedman v Transport Accident Commission (2006) 226 CLR 362; [2006] HCA 8 Texts Cited: M Leeming, Resolving Conflicts of Law (The Federation Press, 2011) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Charbel Elachi (Appellant) Council of the City of Shoalhaven (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms S Duggan SC/Ms J Reid (Appellant) Mr I Hemmings SC/Mr S Nash (Respondent)