COMMISSIONER: Q. Mr Nixy, "would think" is a little imprecise. Are you aware of any instances where that's occurred?
A. Not in my experience, no.
63 It is clear that the s 94 Plan is one which has been adopted and applied and should therefore, prima facie, be followed (Stockland Development Pty Ltd v Manly Council (2004) 136 LGERA 254; [2004] NSWLEC 472).
64 I also accept that the terms of the plan also imply that a contribution would be triggered by the construction of a new dwelling.
65 However, I do have a broad discretion to vary such a plan if its application would be unreasonable (Rose Consulting Group v Baulkham Hills Shire Council (2003) 58 NSWLR 159; 129 LGERA 165; [2003] NSWCA 266).
66 The consistency by a council in the application of a policy is also a factor of significance in determining how it should be treated by the Court (Stockland).
67 In the present case, on the evidence available to me, the plan has been applied in a consistent pattern which would exclude circumstances such as exist in the present case when what is proposed is a new dwelling on an allotment which has been in existence for some seventy or more years.
68 As the allotment has been in existence for well over seventy years and I have no evidence of any other imposition of such a contribution in similar circumstances and Mr Nixy's evidence, as set out above, that the council consistently applied such contributions for the creation of second or multiple dwellings, not for the primary dwelling, I am satisfied that it would be both unreasonable and inconsistent to impose this condition in these circumstances.
Conclusion
69 As I have determined that the proposed stormwater disposal system is acceptable, I do not need to consider what would be the procedural consequences of imposing a requirement that the applicant obtain an easement using statutory processes.