Saffioti v Kiama Municipal Council [2019] NSWLEC 57

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Saffioti v Kiama Municipal Council [2019] NSWLEC 57 Hearing dates: 18 March 2019 Date of orders: 18 April 2019 Decision date: 18 April 2019 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 – development application to enlarge, expand or intensify existing use – proposal to erect new dwelling and decommission existing dwelling – significant adverse impact on terrestrial biodiversity – uncertainty and inconsistency in applicant's evidence – applicant requested Commissioner give amber light – Commissioner did not give amber light and refused development consent – whether denial of procedural fairness by not giving amber light – Commissioner found development breached DCP controls – whether denial of procedural fairness by not giving opportunity to provide alternative solutions to achieve objects of controls – LEP provision setting factual preconditions before consent can be granted – whether LEP provision derogated from incorporated provisions for existing use – whether misdirection as to derogation test – whether conflation of LEP provisions and DCP controls – error on question of law not established Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 Kiama Development Control Plan 2012 Kiama Local Environmental Plan 2011 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 State Environmental Planning Policy No 1 – Development Standards Cases Cited: Ali v Liverpool City Council [2009] NSWLEC 1327 Cracknell & Lonergan Architects Pty Ltd v Leichhardt Municipal Council (2012) 193 LGERA 151; [2012] NSWLEC 194 Forgall Pty Ltd v Greater Taree City (2015) 209 LGERA 160; [2015] NSWLEC 61 Iris Diversified Property Pty Ltd v Randwick City Council (2010) 173 LGERA 240; [2010] NSWLEC 58 Ku-ring-gai Council v Bunnings Properties Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 28 Luxe Manly Pty Ltd v Northern Beaches Council [2016] NSWLEC 156 oOh! Media Assets Pty Ltd v The Council of the City of Sydney [2016] NSWLEC 47 Riordans Consulting Surveyors Pty Ltd v Lismore City Council [2010] NSWLEC 1333 Riverstone Parade Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2015] NSWLEC 137 Saffioti v Kiama Municipal Council (2017) 225 LGERA 136; [2017] NSWLEC 65 Saffioti v Kiama Municipal Council [2018] NSWLEC 1426 Warkworth Mining Ltd v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Connie Saffioti (Applicant) Kiama Municipal Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr P McEwen SC (Applicant) Mr S Nash (Respondent)