Ryder v Randwick City Council
[2024] NSWLEC 1590
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Land and Environment Court (NSW)
Decision date
2024-05-31
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (12 paragraphs)
JUDGMENT
- COMMISSIONER: The Applicants, Katie Louise Ryder and Michael John Boman (Ryder & Boman) have appealed pursuant to s 8.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act) against Randwick City Council's (Council) deemed refusal of development application no. 418/2023 (DA). The DA seeks development consent for alterations and additions to the existing dwelling including a first-floor addition, partial removal of Council's sandstone retaining wall, excavation for a new basement garage and crossover to kerb, new Council pedestrian stairs and footbridge and associated works at 241 Darley Road, Randwick, legally described as Lot 119 DP 3024 (site).
- The appeal is a residential appeal and in accordance with s 34AA of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (LEC Act), commenced as a conciliation conference. As agreement could not be reached between the parties to resolve the issues, the conciliation conference was terminated, and the hearing commenced immediately. The parties agreed for the evidence from the site viewing and conciliation discussions to be considered in the hearing.
- As a result of joint expert reporting and discussions between the parties, the only remaining contention pressed by Council was the garage access through the sandstone retaining wall located on public land.
- As set out below, I find that the proposed development warrants refusal as it would introduce a significant breach to the unbroken sandstone retaining wall, significant changes to the public domain and would be incompatible with the character of the streetscape, contrary to the intent of the planning controls.