North Sydney Council v Harris Farm Markets Pty Limited [2017] NSWLEC 67

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: North Sydney Council v Harris Farm Markets Pty Limited [2017] NSWLEC 67 Hearing dates: 6 and 7 March 2017 Decision date: 09 June 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 4 Before: Sheahan J Decision: See paragraphs [202] – [207] Catchwords: JUDICIAL REVIEW – validity of complying development certificates – alterations to and change of use of a tenancy and shared basement within a mixed use retail/commercial/residential development – amalgamation of tenancies prohibited by a condition of development consent – whether a condition of development consent invalidated the changes authorised by two subsequent complying development certificates – construction of development consents – whether there was ambiguity in the consent condition – consents should be construed so as to "achieve practical results" – interpretation in context – extrinsic evidence – whether development is compliant with the zoning objectives – whether development would impact on traffic and car parking – whether the certifier issuing the CDCs could have been reasonably satisfied that the development standards were met – environmental planning instruments – discretion – form of orders reserved – costs. Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 Hornsby Local Environmental Plan 2013 North Sydney Development Control Plan 2013 North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2001 North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2013 State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 Cases Cited: Agricultural Equity Investments Pty Ltd v Westlime Pty Ltd (No 3) [2015] NSWLEC 75 Avon Downs Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1949) 78 CLR 353; [1949] HCA 26 Bankstown City Council v Ramahi (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 34 Bluestone Property v North Sydney Council [2006] NSWLEC 449 Brown Brothers v Pittwater Council [2015] NSWCA 215 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337 Electricity Generation Corporation v Woodside Energy Ltd (2014) 88 ALJR 447; [2014] HCA 7 Foley v Padley (1984) 154 CLR 349; [1984] HCA 50 Hamptons Development Group v North Sydney Council [2007] NSWLEC 814 Harris Farm Markets Cammeray Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2008] NSWLEC 1413 Hornsby Shire Council v Trives (No 3) [2015] NSWLEC 190 Lend Lease Real Estate Investments Ltd & Anor v GPT RE Ltd [2006] NSWCA 207 Mainteck Services Pty Ltd v Stein Heurtey SA (2014) 89 NSWLR 633; [2014] NSWCA 184 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Singh (2014) 231 FCR 437; [2014] FCAFC 1 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Newey v Westpac Banking Corporation [2014] NSWCA 319 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 Ross v Lane Cove Council (2014) 86 NSWLR 34 R v Connell; Ex parte Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd (No 2) (1944) 69 CLR 407; [1944] HCA 42 Siminton v Australian Prudential Regulation Authority [2008] FCAFC 90 Stratton Finance Pty Ltd v Webb (Stratton Finance) [2014] FCAFC 110 The Owners Strata Plan 432 v Seddon [2015] NSWLEC 69 Tovir Investments Pty Ltd v Waverley Council [2014] NSWCA 379 Trives v Hornsby Shire Council (2015) 89 NSWLR 268 Western Export Services Inc v Jireh International Pty Ltd (2011) 86 ALJR 1; [2011] HCA 45 Westfield Management Limited v Perpetual Trustee Company Limited & Anor [2006] NSWCA 245 Texts Cited: DC Pearce and RS Geddes, "Statutory Interpretation in Australia", 7th ed Category: Principal judgment Parties: North Sydney Council (Applicant) Harris Farm Markets Pty Limited (First respondent) Harris Farm Markets Cammeray Pty Limited (Second respondent) Brendan Bennett (Third respondent) City Plan Services Pty Ltd (Fourth respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Hutton, barrister (Applicant) Mr P Rigg, solicitor and barrister (First & second respondents) Submitting appearance (Third & fourth respondents)