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[2012] ACAT 31
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal
2012-05-31
Ms J
Original judgment source is linked above.
Mr Anthony Tokich is a Director of Artico. Artico is seeking to amend the Crown Lease Purpose Clause for the property to allow for an "Indoor recreation facility LIMITED to a gym/fitness centre" to be established and operated in units 67 and 71, both owned by the Applicant. Artico is to be responsible for all costs associated with the amendments. The indoor recreation facility proposed by Artico is a commercial gym/fitness centre, one not limited to the use of residents and/or owners of the units in Units Plan No 3461. 2. The Respondent is the Owners Corporation of Units Plan No 3461. At the hearing on 19 April 2012, Ms Renee Drover of Independent Body Corporate Services Pty Limited, represented the Owners Corporation and indicated that all unit owners other than Mr Lewis did not oppose the variation to the Crown Lease Purpose Clause. 3. Mr Lewis, the owner of unit 58, who was joined in these proceedings, appeared at the hearing to oppose the proposed variation to the Crown Lease Purpose Clause. His submissions and arguments are set out below. 4. The current Crown Lease Purpose Clause for the property is set out in Clause 3(c) of Form 4, Units Plan No 3461 entitled ', dated 23 March, 2010. Clause 3(c):
"(c) To use Units 1 to 81 for one or more of the following purposes:
(ii) Units 67 to 81 inclusive for the following uses:
(l) office LIMITED to a combined maximum gross floor area of 2,000
(lll) shop RESTRICTED to the sale of items that are consistent with the
use of the parcel of land for entertainment accommodation or leisure
purposes such as speciality (sic) goods, arts, crafts and souvenirs, or
be for the provision of convenience shopping and personal services
for the local workforce and residents PROVIDED THAT the
maximum gross floor area of any shop selling food (other than
27 September 2011, and 1 and 24 November 2011 respectively, considered a motion to amend the Crown Lease Purpose Clause to allow for an indoor recreation facility LIMITED to a gym/fitness centre to be established and operated in units 67 and 71. The motion was not passed by an unopposed resolution at any of the general meetings. At the hearing Mr Lewis informed the Tribunal he was the only remaining owner to oppose the resolution. 3. The Applicant sought an order under section 125(1)(g) of the Unit Titles Act (Republication No 22) which empowers the Tribunal to make an order "giving effect to an unsuccessful motion for a resolution of a general meeting (either as originally proposed or as amended by the ACAT) if the ACAT is satisfied after a merits review of the motion that opposition to the motion was unreasonable". 4. The Tribunal reserved its decision after hearing the parties' submissions and receiving their documentary evidence on 19 April 2012. A summary of the parties' oral and written submissions follow, then the Tribunal's reasons and decision.
"By broadening the purpose clause of Units 67 and 76 to allow for 'indoor recreation facility' positively adding (sic) to the amenity of the development as follows:
The use of an indoor recreation facility may attract purchasers to this particular development over others;
The units in question take up a prominent street frontage and an indoor recreation centre is unlikely to have an overbearing impact on the façade of the building whereas for example a souvenir shop may cheapen the perception of the development;
Vacant commercial tenancies in the area may benefit with businesses choosing to set up in this locality which would be expected to have a positive impact on demand in the foreshore precinct.
In conclusion the addition of use 'indoor recreation facility' to the purpose clause for Units 67 and 71 of Units Plan 3461 is, in our opinion' not going to have a negative impact on units within the development be they residential or commercial."
19 September 2011 was not accurate as, in relation to any additional cost to the body corporate from a gym being included in the complex, Ms Drover indicated that the body corporate would not incur any additional fees. Subsequently on 19 April 2012, Ms Drover forwarded to Mr Lewis an email from Mr Scott Driscoll, CHU Underwriting Agencies Pty Limited who stated that as commercial insurance policies are rated by use and each unit is included in the calculation of insurance for a block of units, there would be a minimal difference in the insurance rate for Aspire if a gym was included in the block since a gym would attract a higher rate that an office. Mr Driscoll estimated that the difference for Aspire could be as small as $300 in a year (less than 1%) if no other factors changed in relation to the policy. Mr Lewis gave this as an instance of Mr Tokich and/or Artico not being credible in his or its dealings with unit owners in Aspire.
Mr Tokich has not been able to sell the units he has and may be having problems with his return from the development. Mr Lewis suggested that the gym is being proposed by Mr Tokich to negate his losses, not to improve the building or to benefit all the owners. 3. As another instance of Mr Tokich's lack of credibility, Mr Lewis instanced an issue concerning the contract for lift maintenance in Aspire. At the AGM held on 30 June 2010, Mr Lewis stated it was noted that there was a 12 month free maintenance period for the lift. However, it was not disclosed at the AGM that the 12 month period operated from
29 March 2010, the date of commencement of the lift maintenance contract. Mr Lewis stated that this was not revealed for over 12 months. 4. As an issue demonstrating that Artico is not forthcoming in its dealings with unit owners, Mr Lewis raised an issue with the cabling for a proposed Foxtel hook up to Aspire. Mr Lewis stated he was advised that cabling had been installed but later it appeared that there were deficiencies with the cabling. A report by Mr Andrew Goleby, Electronics Pty Limited, dated 12 August 2010 to Independent Body Corporate Services showed that the cabling did not appear to satisfy the requirements stipulated in the Foxtel Satellite Installation Manual - SIM for Multi-Dwelling Units Multi-Residential Estates and Commercial Installations FD/T/E/2207.
Mr Goleby quoted $11,225.20 to carry out the work to comply with the Foxtel requirements for installation of Foxtel at Aspire. This resulted in an impost on unit owners to cover the cost of making Aspire "Foxtel ready".
"An order giving effect to an unsuccessful motion for a resolution of a general meeting (either as originally proposed or as amended by the ACAT) if the ACAT is satisfied after a merits review of the motion that opposition to the motion was unreasonable"
sub-regulation (3H) of Regulation 9 of the Customs (Prohibited Export) Regulations (C'th). That sub-regulation provided that the Minister or other authorized person shall not unreasonably refuse "to grant a permission" or "to consent to the assignment or surrender of a permission" under the sub-regulation. The Tribunal accepts that a similar meaning is to be applied to the word "unreasonable" in section 125((1)(g) of the Unit Titles Act. 2. Senior Member Lennard referred to the definition of "unreasonable" in the Macquarie Dictionary for its meaning in ordinary parlance: that definition is, "not reasonable, not endowed with reason, not guided by reason or good sense, not based or in accordance with reason or sound judgment". 3. Therefore, the Tribunal has the task of considering whether in all the circumstances, after reviewing the merits of the motion concerning the proposed variation of the Crown Lease Purpose Clause to include provision of a gym or fitness centre, the opposition to the motion was, or was not, based on, or in accordance with, reason or sound judgment. To carry out this task the Tribunal considered the oral and written submissions of the Applicant, the Respondent and the Party Joined. 4. The Tribunal notes that units 67 and 71 which are the subject of the motion are located on the corner of Giles Street and Printers Way in the Kingston Foreshore development. They are located on the ground floor and mezzanine levels respectively. All the owners of the units surrounding these two units do not oppose the variation motion.
19 September 2011 (Attachment "D"). The letter sought to answer questions posed by the Executive Committee of the Owners Corporation regarding the proposed change. The letter dealt with the location of units 67 and 71, the hours of operation of a recreation facility, parking, noise, access (including to the rest of the building), water consumption, facilities for the two units involved and any additional costs to the body corporate in relation to the gym (such as insurance or cleaning). Information was also given to unit owners at the three General meetings in which the motion was considered. Therefore, the Tribunal accepts that all unit owners were given notice of the proposed application and also information concerning detail of the operation of the proposed gym or recreational facility, thus satisfying this requirement of section 166. The Tribunal accepts that the information given concerning the operation of the proposed gym was not final as the final detail will depend on whether the application is allowed by the ACT Planning and Land Authority (presently, ACT Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate) and which organisation gains the lease of units 67 and 71 to operate a gym and/or recreational facility.
Plan 2008. The Kingston Foreshore Development is zoned CZ5 which is a mixed use development zone. The CZ5 Mixed Zone Development Code states that this zone is intended to ensure that the type and form of development within the CZ5 zone is responsive and sympathetic to the character of the locality. Part A of the Code provides general controls that are applicable to all CZ5 Zones and Part B provides additional specific controls for particular areas, including the Kingston Foreshore. Part A states that CZ5 zones combine residential and commercial accommodation with uses such as offices, small scale shops and restaurants (the wording of the original Crown Lease Purpose Clause for Aspire) in the form of multiuse or mixed use developments. In the document 4.1 CZ5 Mixed Use Zone Objectives, an indoor recreation facility is listed as a development that will be assessed in the merit track in a CZ5 zone development application. Such a development is therefore contemplated and available for a CZ5 zone, and thus for the Kingston Foreshore. The Tribunal notes that in the CZ5 Mixed Use Zone Development Table the only development prohibited in the Kingston Foreshore precinct area (d), in which Aspire is located, is a hotel. 2. Having considered all the above, and the parties' oral and written submissions, the Tribunal is of the opinion that it is not reasonable to oppose the motion on the basis that locating a gym or fitness centre in units 67 and 71 of Aspire is contrary to the Territory Plan for the Kingston Foreshore Development.
Mr Lewis did not present evidence to refute Artico's comprehensive submissions to deal with this issue. The Tribunal considers that the type of provisions suggested by Anytime Fitness to deal with noise as well as the proposed terms suggested by Artico for inclusion in any lease of the two units for a gym or fitness centre are sufficient to cover any noise issues. 2. Concerns about noise from a gym or fitness centre in Aspire would also appear to be addressed by the requirements for applications for development in CZ5 zones. Clause 6.10 in the Element 6 - Environment of the General Development Controls for CZ5 zones, addresses the issue of noise for applications in these developments and provides that a Noise Management Plan, prepared by an accredited acoustic specialist, is to be provided for any use of the development as a club. The Plan is to detail the design, siting and construction methods which will be used to minimise the impact of noise on neighbours. 3. In its written submissions, Artico stated that it would incorporate into any lease agreement with a tenant which would operate a gym or fitness centre both Clauses 7 and 8 of the Owners Corporation Articles dealing with noise or nuisance by tenants of units in Aspire. In his Witness Statement (paragraph 20), Mr Tokich said that a failure by any tenant of units 7 and 71 to comply with those clauses would be a breach of the lease. 4. Further, in the Minutes of the General Meeting of Units Plan 3461 on
27 September 2011, it is noted that possibly a "females only" gym would be located on the mezzanine level as an additional noise barrier as the majority of equipment in such an area would be of the exercise bikes and treadmills variety. 5. Having considered all the above, and the parties' oral and written submissions, concerning the issue of noise, the Tribunal is of the opinion that it is not reasonable to oppose the motion on the ground of noise arising from a gym or fitness centre being located in units 67 and 71 of Aspire.
'That the existing Lease Purpose Clause for Units Plan 3461 be amended to allow for "Indoor recreation facility LIMITED to a gym/fitness centre", with all costs associated with the amenities being the responsibility of the owner of Units 67 and 71.' be given effect to.
The motion is taken to have been passed as an unopposed resolution of a general meeting of the respondent owners corporation of Units Plan No.3461.
FULL REPORT ( ) CASE NOTE ( ) UNREPORTED DECISION ( )
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