Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2018] NSWLEC 118

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2018] NSWLEC 118 Hearing dates: 25 July 2018 Date of orders: 14 August 2018 Decision date: 14 August 2018 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court orders: (1) The appeal is upheld. (2) The decision and orders of Commissioner Smithson of 20 December 2017 are set aside. (3) The proceedings are remitted to a Commissioner or Commissioners (other than Commissioner Smithson) to be determined in accordance with these reasons for judgment. (4) The respondent is to pay the applicant's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: APPEAL – appeal against a Commissioner's decision on questions of law – refusal of development consent – development contravened height development standard – Commissioner not satisfied that contravention of development standard justified – misinterpretation and misapplication of cl 4.6 of Woollahra Local Environmental Plan 2014 – denial of procedural fairness – determination based on issue and evidence not pleaded or presented by parties – form of remitter order – whether exclusionary remitter order appropriate Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 1.3, 1.4 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 cl 64 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 ss 39(6), 56A Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Order 2006 State Environmental Planning Policy No 1 – Development Standards Woollahra Local Environmental Plan 2014 Cases Cited: Baulkham Hills Shire Council v Basemount Pty Ltd (2003) 126 LGERA 339; [2003] NSWCA 189 Boral Cement Pty Ltd v SHCAG Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 203 Botany Bay City Council v Pet Carriers International Pty Limited (2013) 201 LGERA 116; [2013] NSWLEC 147 Castle Constructions Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council (2007) 155 LGERA 52; [2007] NSWCA 164 Corporation of the City of Enfield v Development Assessment Commission (2000) 199 CLR 135; [2000] HCA 5 Currey v Sutherland Shire Council (1998) 100 LGERA 365 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Fast Buck$ v Byron Shire Council (1999) 103 LGERA 94 Four2Five Pty Ltd v Ashfield Council [2015] NSWCA 248 Four2Five Pty Ltd v Ashfield Council [2015] NSWLEC 90 Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2017] NSWLEC 1734 Manly Council v Hortis (2001) 113 LGERA 321; [2001] NSWCA 81 Presbyterian Church (New South Wales) Property Trust v Woollahra Municipal Council [2015] NSWLEC 47 Randwick City Council v Micaul Holdings Pty Ltd (2016) 225 LGERA 94; [2016] NSWLEC 7 Re Refugee Review Tribunal; Ex parte Aala (2000) 204 CLR 82; [2000] HCA 57 Segal v Waverley Council (2005) 64 NSWLR 177; [2005] NSWCA 310 Seltsam Pty Ltd v Ghaleb (2005) 3 DDCR 1; [2005] NSWCA 208 Schaffer Corporation Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council (1992) 77 LGRA 21 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141 Wehbe v Pittwater Council (2007) 156 LGERA 446; [2007] NSWLEC 827 Winten Property Group Limited v North Sydney Council (2001) 130 LGERA 79; [2001] NSWLEC 46 Woolworths Ltd v Pallas Newco Pty Ltd (2004) 61 NSWLR 707; [2004] NSWCA 442 Texts Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation Planning Circular PS 18-003 Macquarie Dictionary, 4th ed Category: Principal judgment Parties: Initial Action Pty Ltd (Appellant) Woollahra Municipal Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr I Hemmings SC and Ms N Hammond (Appellant) Mr P Rigg (solicitor) (Respondent)