16 Mr Beers accepted that a brothel could be consistent with the aims (b) and (c) of the draft Burwood LEP 2008, however queried whether it would be desirable. In relation to aim (d) the issue would be whether a brothel was appropriate in a mix of land uses; in relation to aim (i) it would be a question of management: if well managed then the only amenity impact may be for people walking past. Mr Beers agreed that some of the permissible uses in the B4 zone could potentially have greater impacts on amenity than a brothel, and that the distinction is that a brothel provides sexual services.
17 In Terrace Tower Holdings Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2003) NSWCA 289 the Court of Appeal approved the line of authority in this Court concerning the weight to be given to draft environmental planning instruments. Mason P held:
46 The cases permit a consent authority to give weight to its perception of the likely (or unlikely) imminence of the relevant provisions of the draft exhibited instrument coming into force; or if it has in fact come into force, to treat it (draft though it is in its direct applicability) as if its provisions were "certain and imminent". This approach has long been adopted by the Land and Environment Court and its predecessors, the Land and Valuation Court and the Local Government Appeals Tribunal (see Ward v Warringah Shire Council (1963) 10 LGRA 114 at 119-120; Pymble Industrial Village Pty Ltd v Kur-ring-gai Municipal Council (1975) 3 LGATR 161 at 165; Balgownie Pty Ltd v Shoalhaven City Council (1980) 46 LGRA 198 at 201-2; Mathers v North Sydney Council [2000] NSWLEC 84 at [42]; Hassell Pty Ltd v Warringah Shire Council [2000] NSWLEC 49 at [36]-[37]; Detita Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2001] NSWLEC 209 at [6]; Blackmore Design Group Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council (2001) 118 LGERA 290 at 297-8). See also Teston Investments Pty Ltd v Melbourne & Metropolitan Board of Works (1985) 62 LGRA 346 at 353-4.
47 The principles are well summarised by Pearlman J in Architects Haywood and Bakker Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council [2000] NSWLEC 138, a decision cited by Cowdroy J (at [14]). Pearlman J said:
33. Certainty and imminence of the making of a draft environmental planning instrument have long been applied in this Court as benchmarks for the attribution of weight in the consideration of a development application (see Balgownie Pty Ltd v Shoalhaven City Council (1980) 46 LGRA 198 at 202 ; Parramatta City Council v Takchi (Stein J, NSWLEC, 17 April 1996, unreported) and Davfast Pty Ltd v Ballina Shire Council and Anor [2000] NSWLEC 128, unreported). As to the certainty and imminence of the making of the Draft LEP, it is relevant to note that, not only was it placed on exhibition twice, but, according to Mr Czeref's evidence, submissions about the Draft LEP following its second exhibition were being considered, and it was intended to forward it in June to the Minister so that it could be made. There is no doubt in my mind that the Draft LEP will eventually be made, and to that extent it is certain and imminent, but its precise final form is not certain at this stage, for that depends upon any amendments made consequent upon submissions and amendments which might be required by the Minister. But those are matters of detail not of substance, and the planning approach which it adopts must in my opinion be regarded as certain to be brought into force within the reasonably foreseeable future. Hence I place significant weight upon its provisions in the assessment of the development application in this case.
18 The applicant relied on the decision of Lloyd J in Blackmore Design Group Pty Ltd v North Sydney Council (2001) 118 LGERA 290, where an amending LEP had come into force after the lodgement of the development application, and contained a provision in similar terms to cl1.8A of the draft Burwood LEP 2008. As in these proceedings, the proposed development was permissible with consent under the LEP applicable at the time of the development application; and the amending LEP had the effect of prohibiting that development. Lloyd J held:
30. Whether one applies the test of "significant weight", or "some weight", or "considerable weight" or "due force" or "determining weight" to the later instrument is not, however, the end of the matter. The savings clause still has some work to do. The proposed development is a permissible development by dint of the savings clause. In giving the 2001 LEP the weight of being imminent and certain, that does not mean that there is no further inquiry. It is necessary to look at the aims and objectives of the later instrument and then see whether the proposed development is consistent therewith. Various expressions have been used to define this concept, but the approach which has been favoured in the Court of Appeal is to ask whether the proposal is "antipathetic" thereto ( Coffs Harbour Environment Centre Inc v Coffs Harbour City Council (1991) 74 LGRA 185 at 193).
19 Mr Gough submitted that as was held in Blackmore Design Group, here the proposal is permissible by virtue of cl 1.8A of the draft Burwood LEP 2008; there are no merit issues which would justify refusal of the application; and the expert evidence demonstrates that the proposal is in accordance with and promotes the specific objectives of the zone.