· the applicant must have known that the reason that the issue of access to the common manoeuvring area was not argued in the proceeding was because Ms Hopkins-Shirley assumed that access to that area would be available to the owner of Lot A. Notwithstanding that, the applicant submitted a plan to the Court excluding Lot A from the reciprocal right of way over the "common manoeuvring area" shown on the plan of subdivision. He then, shortly after the judgment was delivered and while the Council still had a right of appeal, indicated to Mr Shirley and Ms Hopkins-Shirley that they would have access to this area. Whilst I am not convinced that this behaviour constitutes a fraudulently obtained judgment, I am convinced that the conduct is unconscionable to say the least. The Council had its rights of appeal pursuant to the Land and Environment Court Act , s 56A possibly thwarted by the applicant's misrepresentation.
· The orders of the Court effect a considerable injustice not only on Ms Hopkins-Shirley, but also on the Council as the body charged with upholding relevant planning law. The ability of the Council to fulfil an object of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act , s 5 was impeded by the applicant's misrepresentation. For example sub-paragraph (a)(ii) of that section states that an object of the Act is to encourage "the promotion and co-ordination of the orderly and economic use and development of the land". This Court decides issues that affect the rights not merely of the parties in Court but the public interest.
· The judgment may have, without any intention on the part of the Assessor, affected the private rights of a third person pursuant to a contract for the sale of land. The contract was settled on 29 October 1998 after being exchanged on 14 March 1998.
· In Haig v The Minister Kirby P (at 154) referred to Wentworth v Rogers (No 9) (1987) 8 NSWLR 388 at 395 in which the Court of Appeal expressed the view about the exercise of the discretion to re-open proceedings that "plainly [the discretion] ought to exist. But it is a discretion to be utilised with extreme care. Although not confined to such cases, it should normally be limited to dealing with technical or incidental changes to the form or content of orders but should not be used as a substitute for an appeal". I think that that statement applies to the present case. The order sought to be challenged does not go to the substance of the application approved by the Assessor. The part of the particular condition, the practicality and justice of which is sought to be argued, could accurately be described as an incidental matter which would not necessarily disturb the grant of development consent to the subdivision.