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Development Control Orders: Validity Matters More Than Ever

A recent decision by the NSW Land and Environment Court in Kingfisher Properties Pty Ltd v Northern Beaches Council [2025] NSWLEC 39 (Kingfisher Case) is a timely reminder that development control orders (DCO) must adhere to statutory requirements.

In this case, the Court reduced a $100,000 penalty to just $9,000 after finding that the DCO issued went beyond the powers permitted under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) (EP&A Act).

Background

Kingfisher Properties Pty Ltd (Kingfisher) was a company that built a carport without obtaining the necessary development consent for the construction. Northern Beaches Council (Council) issued a DCO requiring Kingfisher to remove the carport. Initially, this was done via a Compliance Order under item 11, part 1 of Schedule 5 of the EP&A Act. However, a Compliance Order can only be used when a planning approval exists but has not been complied with. Given there was no planning approval in this instance this was not the appropriate order to issue. [...]  READ MORE →

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Payment of Lodgement Fee is Essential for Making a Development Application – Lessons from Hinkler Ave 1 Pty Limited v Sutherland Shire Council [2023] NSWCA 264

In Hinkler Ave 1 Pty Limited v Sutherland Shire Council [2023] NSWCA 264 (Hinkler), the Court of Appeal confirmed the long-standing principle that development applications are not “made” until the lodgement fees for the applications have been paid. This case addressed the applicability of a savings provision under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, emphasising the distinction between submitting and completing a DA under the Environmental Planning and Assessment regulation. For this reason, it is crucial that applicants are aware of their responsibilities in regard to development applications. [...]  READ MORE →

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Court Invalidates Minister’s Decision

On 30 July 2016, the Minister for Heritage (Minister) made a decision not to direct that the Sirius Apartment Building (Sirius) at Millers Point, Sydney be listed on the State Heritage Register. This decision was made despite a recommendation from the Heritage Council of New South Wales (Heritage Council) that Sirius be listed on the Register.

Sirius was built in the 1980s and since then has become a well-known and significant building in Sydney. It has been used predominantly as social housing up until the NSW Government announced in March 2014 that it intends to sell Sirius and then re-invest the proceeds of sale into social housing across the state. [...]  READ MORE →

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Pollution Licences under the POEO Act

The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) (the Act) provides an environmental regulatory framework in NSW.  Regulatory authorities are able to issue environment protection licences under the Act to control the impact of pollution.  These licences are sometimes referred to as ‘pollution licences’.  The relevant regulatory authorities are the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), local councils, the Roads and Maritime Service and the Marine Parks Authority.

The pollution licences that are issued are subject to conditions.  For premises that do not hold an pollution licence, the local Council regulates pollution from the premises.  The activities that require a licence are listed in Schedule 1 of the Act. The activities that are listed are generally activities that have the potential to have significant environmental impacts.  Licences are issued for: [...]  READ MORE →