Ku-ring-gai Council v Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 28

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Ku-ring-gai Council v Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 28 Hearing dates: 19 October 2018 Date of orders: 26 February 2019 Decision date: 26 February 2019 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Basten JA at [11]; Preston CJ of LEC at [79] Decision: (1) Grant leave to Ku-ring-gai Council to appeal against the decision of Sheahan J of the Land and Environment Court of 28 February 2018.

(2) Dismiss the appeal by Ku-ring-gai Council.

(3) Dismiss the cross appeal by Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd.

(4) Order Ku-ring-gai Council to pay Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd's costs of the proceedings in this Court. Catchwords: APPEAL – appeal against Land and Environment Court judge's decision on questions of law upholding Commissioner's decision – appeal against consent authority's refusal of development application – Commissioner made interim findings, allowed amendment of development application and granted consent to amended development application – whether Commissioner acted outside power – whether Commissioner failed to exercise jurisdiction by not finally disposing of appeal in first judgment – merits review jurisdiction – whether exercise of administrative or judicial power – whether 'amber light approach' outside power Legislation Cited: Australian Constitution Ch 3 Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), ss 11, 64, 65 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 5, 76A, 78A, 79A, 79C, 80, 82, 82A, 96, 97, 97B Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 cll 55, 123G, 123H, 123I Judicial Officers Act 1986 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 ss 5, 6, 12, 16, 17, 22, 30, 32, 33, 34, 34AA, 36, 38, 39, 42, 56, 56A, 57, 68; Pt 3; Pt 4, Div 4; Sch 1 Land and Environment Court Rules 2007, Pt 3 Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Act 1975 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, rr 1.5, 1.6; Pt 19; Sch 1; Sch 2 Cases Cited: Achurch v R (2014) 253 CLR 141; [2014] HCA 10 Ainsworth v The Criminal Justice Commission (1992) 175 CLR 564; [1992] HCA 10 Al Maha Pty Ltd v Huajun Investments Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 245 Ali v Liverpool City Council [2009] NSWLEC 1327 Attorney-General (Cth) v Alinta Ltd (2008) 233 CLR 542; [2008] HCA 2 Bailey v Marinoff (1971) 125 CLR 529; [1971] HCA 49 Bass v Permanent Trustee Co Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 334; [1999] HCA 9 Builders Licensing Board v Sperway Constructions (Syd) Pty Ltd (1976) 135 CLR 616; [1976] HCA 62 Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd v Ku-ring-gai Council (No 4) [2017] NSWLEC 1238 Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd v Ku-ring-gai Council [2016] NSWLEC 1658 Burns v Corbett (2017) 96 NSWLR 247; [2017] NSWCA 3 Burns v Corbett (2018) 92 ALJR 423; [2018] HCA 15 Burrell v The Queen (2008) 238 CLR 218; [2008] HCA 34 Champions Quarry Pty Ltd v Lismore City Council [2011] NSWLEC 1124 Clarke & Walker Pty Ltd v Secretary Department of Industrial Relations [1985] 3 NSWLR 685 D'Orta-Ekenaike v Victoria Legal Aid (2005) 223 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 12 DJL v The Central Authority (2000) 201 CLR 226; [2000] HCA 17 Drake v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1979) 24 ALR 577; [1979] FCA 39 Ebsworth v Sutherland Shire Council [2005] NSWLEC 603 Gordon v Lever [2017] NSWSC 1282 Janlz Constructions Pty Ltd v Randwick Municipal Council [1976] 2 NSWLR 427 K-Generation Pty Ltd v Liquor Licensing Court (2009) 237 CLR 501; [2009] HCA 4 Kirk v Industrial Court (NSW) (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 Ku-ring-gai Council v Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd (No 2) [2018] NSWLEC 19 Ku-ring-gai Council v Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 16 Luton v Lessels (2002) 210 CLR 333; [2002] HCA 13 Luxe Manly Pty Ltd v Northern Beaches Council [2016] NSWLEC 156 Marinkovic v Rockdale City Council (2007) 151 LGERA 385; [2007] NSWLEC 71 Maxnox Pty Ltd v Hurstville City Council (2006) 145 LGERA 373; [2006] NSWLEC 146 McGovern v Ku-ring-gai Council (2008) 72 NSWLR 504; [2008] NSWCA 209 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v SZVFW (2018) 92 ALJR 713; [2018] HCA 30 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li (2013) 249 CLR 332; [2013] HCA 18 Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs v Pochi (1980) 4 ALD 139; [1980] FCA 85 Mison v Randwick Municipal Council (1991) 23 NSWLR 734 Moorebank Recyclers Pty Ltd v Tanlane Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCA 304 Muggeridge v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 255 FCR 81; [2017] FCAFC 200 Murlan Consulting Pty Ltd v Ku-Ring-Gai Municipal Council (2009) 170 LGERA 162; [2009] NSWCA 300 Nalor Pty Ltd v Bankstown City Council [1980] 2 NSWLR 630 North Sydney Council v Ligon 302 Pty Ltd (1995) 87 LGERA 435 NSW v Kable (2013) 252 CLR 118; [2013] HCA 26 Orico Properties Pty Ltd v Inner West Council [2017] NSWLEC 90 Osland v Secretary, Department of Justice [No 2] (2010) 241 CLR 320; [2010] HCA 24 Port Stephens Council v Sansom [2007] NSWCA 299; 156 LGERA 125 Powell v Streatham Manor Nursing Home [1935] AC 243 Precision Data Holdings Ltd v Wills (1991) 173 CLR 167; [1991] HCA 58 R v Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration; Ex Parte Barrett (1945) 70 CLR 141; [1945] HCA 50 R v Quinn; Ex Parte Consolidated Foods Corporation (1977) 138 CLR 1; [1977] HCA 62 R v Spicer; Ex Parte Australian Builder's Labourers' Federation (1957) 100 CLR 277; [1957] HCA 81 R v Trade Practices Tribunal; Ex Parte Tasmanian Breweries Pty Ltd (1970) 123 CLR 361; [1970] HCA 8 Radray Constructions Pty Ltd v Hornsby Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 155 Re Drake v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (No 2) (1979) 2 ALD 634; [1979] AATA 179 Re Macks; Ex Parte Saint (2000) 204 CLR 158; [2000] HCA 62 Residents Against Improper Development Inc. v Chase Property Investments Pty Ltd (2006) 149 LGERA 360; [2006] NSWCA 323 Riordans Consulting Surveyors Pty Ltd v Lismore City Council [2010] NSWLEC 1333 Riverstone Parade v Blacktown City Council [2015] NSWLEC 137 Segal v Waverley Council (2005) 64 NSWLR 177; [2005] NSWCA 310 Smith v NSW Bar Association (1992) 176 CLR 256; [1992] HCA 36 Sofi v Wollondilly Shire Council [1975] 2 NSWLR 614 Sydney City Council v Ipoh Pty Ltd (2006) 68 NSWLR 411; [2006] NSWCA 300 Thaina Town (on Goulburn) Pty Ltd v City of Sydney Council (2007) 71 NSWLR 230; [2007] NSWCA 300 The Benevolent Society v Waverley Council [2010] NSWLEC 1082 Thomas v Mowbray (2007) 233 CLR 307; [2007] HCA 33 Turnbull v New South Wales Medical Board [1976] 2 NSWLR 281 Warkworth Mining Limited v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Wingecarribee Shire Council v De Angelis [2016] NSWCA 189 Winn v Director General of National Parks and Wildlife (2001) 130 LGERA 508; [2001] NSWCA 17 Wong v R (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Texts Cited: P Cane, "Merits Review and Judicial Review – The AAT as Trojan Horse" (2000) 28 Federal Law Review 220 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ku-ring-gai Council (Applicant) Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr G Kennett SC, Mr C Lenehan (Applicant) Mr J K Kirk SC, Ms Z C Heger (Respondent)