JN Development Management Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2024] NSWLEC 1820 | Case summary

Land and Environment Court (NSW)|2024-11-26

Judgment

COMMISSIONER: This is an appeal, pursuant to s 8.9 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act), against the refusal of Modification Application No. 547/2015/4, made pursuant to the provisions of s 4.56 of the EPA Act, to modify Development Consent No. 574/2015 granted on 17 August 2016 (JN Development Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2016] NSWLEC 1361) for demolition of the existing dwelling and construction of new part three (3) and part four (4) storey dwelling house with swimming pool, garage and associated landscaping, at 9 Sutherland Crescent, Darling Point (Lot 2 of DP1189573) (the site).
The Court arranged a conciliation conference under s 34AA of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (LEC Act) between the parties, which was held on 25 November 2024. I presided over the conciliation conference. At the conciliation conference, the parties reached agreement as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that would be acceptable to the parties. Under s 34(3) of the LEC Act, I must dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the parties' decision if the parties' decision is a decision that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions. The parties' decision involves the Court exercising the function under s 4.56(1) of the EPA Act to modify the development consent.
The two modification applications, each to modify a different development consent relating to the same site, were the subject of the conciliation conference on 25 November 2024. The other appeal is JN Development Management Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council, File Number 2024/211663.
There are preconditions to the exercise of power to modify the development consent.

Level 6 DA111 Woods Bagot C 28 Nov 2024 Level 5 Garage DA112 Woods Bagot C 28 Nov 2024 Level 3 DA114 Woods Bagot C 28 Nov 2024 Level 00 DA116 Woods Bagot D 28 Nov 2024 Elevation N DA117 Woods Bagot D 28 Nov 2024 Elevation E DA118 Woods Bagot C 28 Nov 2024 Elevation S DA119 Woods Bagot D 28 Nov 2024 Elevation W DA120 Woods Bagot C 28 Nov 2024 Section 01 DA121 Woods Bagot D 28 Nov 2024 Section 02 DA122 Woods Bagot B 28 Nov 2024 Materials DA130 Woods Bagot B 14 Nov 2024

2 Landscape Plans Cover Page 576_S4.55_01 Myles Baldwin Design B 19 Nov 2024 Plant Schedule 576_S4.55_02 Myles Baldwin Design C 19 Nov 2024 Landscape Plan Ground Floor 576_S4.55_10 Myles Baldwin Design C 27 Nov 2024 Landscape Plan Level 1 576_S4.55_11 Myles Baldwin Design B 19 Nov 2024 Landscape Plan Level 2 576_S4.55_ 12 Myles Baldwin Design B 19 Nov 2024 Landscape Plan Level 3 576_S4.55_13 Myles Baldwin Design B 19 Nov 2024 Landscape Plan Level 4 576_S4.55_14 Myles Baldwin Design B 19 Nov 2024 Landscape Plan Level 5 576_S4.55_15 Myles Baldwin Design B 19 Nov 2024 Landscape Plan Level 6 576_S4.55_16 Myles Baldwin Design C 19 Nov 2024 Typical Details 576_S4.55_45 Myles Baldwin Design B 19 Nov 2024 General Specification 576_S4.55_50 Myles Baldwin Design B 19 Nov 2024 3 Other Documents 3D Street Vista Comparison - - - - Tree Comparison Diagrams • Site Comparison • Plan • Fig Comparison • Myles Baldwin Design - - • Approved trees as per pot sizes • Approved trees as per mature heights • Foliage Comparison

Pre-conditions to the grant of consent

The relevant terms of s 4.56 of the EPA Act are: (1) A consent authority may, on application being made by the applicant or any other person entitled to act on a consent granted by the Court and subject to and in accordance with the regulations, modify the development consent if - (a) it is satisfied that the development to which the consent as modified relates is substantially the same development as the development for which the consent was originally granted and before that consent as originally granted was modified (if at all), and (b) it has notified the application in accordance with - (i) the regulations, if the regulations so require, and (ii) a development control plan, if the consent authority is a council that has made a development control plan that requires the notification or advertising of applications for modification of a development consent, and (c) it has notified, or made reasonable attempts to notify, each person who made a submission in respect of the relevant development application of the proposed modification by sending written notice to the last address known to the consent authority of the objector or other person, and (d) it has considered any submissions made concerning the proposed modification within any period prescribed by the regulations or provided by the development control plan, as the case may be. (1A) In determining an application for modification of a consent under this section, the consent authority must take into consideration such of the matters referred to in section 4.15(1) as are of relevance to the development the subject of the application. The consent authority must also take into consideration the reasons given by the consent authority for the grant of the consent that is sought to be modified.
Having compared the two developments, the originally approved development and the modified development, I am satisfied that the developments are substantially the same development. The comparison required between the modified development and the originally approved development is a holistic one of the two developments being compared (Canterbury-Bankstown Council v Realize Architecture Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 31 at [26]).
The site is zoned R2 Low Density Residential pursuant to Woollahra Local Environmental Plan 2014 (LEP 2014). The objectives of the zone, to which regard must be had, are: • To provide for the housing needs of the community within a low density residential environment. • To enable other land uses that provide facilities or services to meet the day to day needs of residents. • To provide for development that is compatible with the character and amenity of the surrounding neighbourhood. • To ensure that development is of a height and scale that achieves the desired future character of the neighbourhood. • To ensure development conserves and enhances tree canopy cover.
I am satisfied that the resident objectors' concerns raised onsite and in their written submissions have been considered and that the amendments made to the application are responsive to the matters raised in those submissions.

Conclusion

I have considered the submissions made by the Council in the Jurisdictional Statement filed with the Court on 3 December 2024 and I am satisfied on the basis of the evidence before me that the agreement of the parties is a decision that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions.

Orders

The orders of the Court are: 1. The appeal is upheld. 2. Development Consent 574/2015 granted on 17 August 2016 for demolition of existing dwelling and construction of new part three (3) and part four (4) storey dwelling house with swimming pool, garage and associated landscaping, at 9 Sutherland Crescent, Darling Point (Lot 2 of DP1189573), is modified by Modification Application 574/2015/4, subject to the conditions of consent at Annexure A. 3. Development Consent No.574/2015 is subject to the consolidated, modified conditions of consent at Annexure B.

DISCLAIMER - Every effort has been made to comply with suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication that may apply to this judgment or decision. The onus remains on any person using material in the judgment or decision to ensure that the intended use of that material does not breach any such order or provision. Further enquiries may be directed to the Registry of the Court or Tribunal in which it was generated. Decision last updated: 19 December 2024

JN Development Management Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council

At a glance

Court

Decision date

Source

Judgment (8 paragraphs)

Parties

Cases Cited (2)