Baron Corporation Pty Limited v Council of the City of Sydney [2019] NSWLEC 61

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Baron Corporation Pty Limited v Council of the City of Sydney [2019] NSWLEC 61 Hearing dates: 11 April 2019 Date of orders: 06 May 2019 Decision date: 06 May 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 a Commissioner's decision on question of law – refusal of development consent to alter approved building – contravention of floor space ratio development standard – clause 4.6 request seeking to justify contravention – Commissioner not satisfied request adequately addressed matters in cl 4.6(3) – whether misconstruction of development standard – whether applied wrong test under cl 4.6(4)(a)(i) or (ii) – whether misdirection in applying cl 4.6 to development standard – whether misdirection concerning lack of adverse amenity impacts – whether misdirection concerning environmental planning grounds – error not material – Commissioner's decision not vitiated Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 4.15, 4.16 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 s 56A Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 cll 4.4, 4.6 Cases Cited: Al Maha Pty Ltd v Huajun Investments Pty Ltd (2018) 233 LGERA 170; [2018] NSWCA 245 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 B & L Linings Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2008) 74 NSWLR 481; [2008] NSWCA 187 Baron Corporation Pty Limited v Council of the City of Sydney [2018] NSWLEC 1552 Bettar v Council of the City of Sydney [2016] NSWLEC 1456 Dial A Dump Industries Pty Ltd v Roads and Maritime Service (2017) 94 NSWLR 554; [2017] NSWCA 73 Edyp v Brazbuild Pty Ltd [2011] NSWCA 218 Gordon & Valich Pty Ltd v City of Sydney Council [2007] NSWLEC 780 Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2018] NSWLEC 118 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Seatainer Terminals Pty Ltd (1981) 48 LGRA 409 Minister Administering Crown Lands Act v Bathurst Local Aboriginal Land Council (2009) 166 LGERA 379; [2009] NSWCA 138 Randwick City Council v Micaul Holdings Pty Ltd (2016) 225 LGERA 94; [2016] NSWLEC 7 Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Peak [2007] NSWCA 66 Schaffer Corporation Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council (1992) 77 LGRA 21 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (2009) 168 LGERA 1; [2009] NSWCA 178 Waverley Council v Hairis Architects (2002) 123 LGERA 100; [2002] NSWLEC 180 Winten Property Group Ltd v North Sydney Council (2001) 130 LGERA 79; [2001] NSWLEC 46 Yates Property Corp Pty Ltd (in liq) v Darling Harbour Authority (1991) 24 NSWLR 156 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Baron Corporation Pty Limited (Appellant) Council of the City of Sydney (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms S Duggan SC, Dr J Smith (Appellant) Mr A Pickles SC (Respondent)