The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Parramatta City Council [2018] NSWLEC 158

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Parramatta City Council [2018] NSWLEC 158 Hearing dates: 27 September 2018 Date of orders: 11 October 2018 Decision date: 11 October 2018 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court orders: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) The applicant is to pay the respondent's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: APPEAL – appeal against Commissioner's decision on questions of law – refusal of development consent to concept development application – design excellence clause – whether applies to concept proposals – whether Commissioner misconstrued or misapplied design excellence clause – whether Commissioner misconstrued or misapplied FSR development standard – whether Commissioner failed to consider relevant consideration – potential social benefits of concept proposals as an aspect of public interest – whether denial of procedural fairness – no grounds of appeal established Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 1.3, 1.4(1), 1.5, 4.12(1), 4.15(1), 4.16, 3.43(5), 4.17, 4.21, 4.22(5), 4.24 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 cll 50(1)(a), 70A, 70B, 250; Sch 1, Pt 1, cll 1, 2 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 ss 39(4), 56A Parramatta Local Environmental Plan 2011 cll 4.4, 4.5, 7.4, 7.10 Parramatta Development Control Plan s 4.3.3 Cases Cited: Bankstown City Council v Mohamad El Dana [2009] NSWLEC 68 Bay Simmer Investments Pty Ltd v New South Wales (2017) 222 LGERA 286; [2017] NSWCA 135 Brindley v Parramatta City Council [2014] NSWLEC 1193 Coulton v Holcombe (1986) 162 CLR 1; [1986] HCA 33 Eaton & Sons Pty Ltd v Warringah Shire Council (1972) 129 CLR 270 Liverpool City Council v Moorebank Recyclers Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 7 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd (1986) 162 CLR 24; [1986] HCA 40 Minister for Immigration v Yusuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 Pilbara Infrastructure Pty Ltd v Australian Competition Tribunal (2012) 246 CLR 379; [2012] HCA 36 TAL Life Ltd v Shuetrim (2016) 91 NSWLR 439; [2016] NSWCA 68 The Benevolent Society v Waverley Council [2010] NSWLEC 1082 The Owners – Strata Plan No 70798 v Bakkante Constructions Pty Ltd (2014) 88 NSWLR 513; [2014] NSWCA 410 Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) v Parramatta City Council [2018] NSWLEC 1129 University of Wollongong v Metwally (No 2) (1985) 59 ALJR 481; [1985] HCA 28 at 483: Walsh v Parramatta City Council (2007) 161 LGERA 118; [2007] NSWLEC 255 Walton v Blacktown City Council [2009] NSWLEC 1040 Warkworth Mining Limited v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) (Appellant) Parramatta City Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Galasso SC (Appellant) Mr I Hemmings SC, Mr S Nash (Respondent)