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Effect of Having a Dog Declared Dangerous by a Local Council

Summary: When a dangerous dog declaration is issued by a council, it is effective through the entire state of New South Wales. As a consequence if you have a dangerous dog that is registered, and you move council areas, you must notify your new local council of your dangerous dog.

Declaring a Dog as Dangerous

What is a Dangerous Dog?

In accordance with section 34 of the Companion Animals Act 1998 (NSW) (Act), if an authorised officer of a Council is satisfied that a dog is dangerous, or if the dog has been declared a dangerous dog under a corresponding legislation in another state or territory, such authorised officer may declare a dog to be a dangerous dog. Sections 5 and 6 of the Act define such authorised officer to be either an employee of a local authority (i.e. council) that is authorised for the purposes of the Act, or a police officer. The authorised officer must give notice to the owner of a dog of the intention to declare the dog to be dangerous, in accordance with section 35 of the Act. [...]  READ MORE →

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How do I object to a Development Application?

Who can make an objection to a DA and what is in an objection?

When a development application (DA) is lodged on the NSW Planning Panel, nearby property owners and any concurrent authorities are notified, so that they are aware of the DA and have opportunities to make submissions. Council’s own policy, council’s development control plan, and the local environmental plan provide guidance as to who is notified of such a DA. The property owners within the vicinity of the proposed DA, and/or anyone who has a submission to make, may provide one of the following responses: [...]  READ MORE →

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McMillan v Taylor

The recent decision of the NSW Court of Appeal in c [2023] NSWCA 183 (McMillan) has built upon the role of the Commissioner in conciliation conferences of the Land and Environment Court (LEC), a judicial mechanism commonly used in development appeal proceedings.

The Court deliberated on the construction of section 34(3) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) (LEC Act), which imposes a duty on the presiding Commissioner to dispose of the proceedings if an agreement is reached between the parties, so long as the decision is one “that the Court could have made in the proper exercise of its functions”. [...]  READ MORE →

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NSW Parliamentary Inquiry’s Report on the Response to the Major Flooding Across NSW in 2022

On 9 August 2022, the NSW Select Committee (Committee) released a report following an inquiry (Inquiry) into the response to major flooding across NSW in 2022 (Report).

The Inquiry was set up to consider the NSW Government’s preparedness, coordination, and response to flooding events. The Committee received 87 submissions, 4 supplementary submissions and 119 responses from individual participants to an online questionnaire. The Committee also undertook site visits and conducted public forums for local residents. [...]  READ MORE →

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Best Practices for Dismissing or Disciplining Public Sector Employees

Disciplining and dismissing an employee is a fraught but necessary aspect of the employer/employee relationship, and given the potential legal risks arising from dismissals they must always be carefully considered and managed.

Even where a valid reason for dismissal exists (e.g. for poor work performance or serious misconduct), an employer must still take care to afford an employee appropriate procedural fairness, have regard to their legal and industrial obligations, and ensure that any dismissal is not influenced by any discriminatory or other unlawful factors. [...]  READ MORE →

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Breaches of the Council Model Code of Conduct – A Lesson for Councillors

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal has recently heard a matter in which the Office of Local Government was seeking a determination as to whether the mayor of Inner West Council, Mr Darcy Byrne, had engaged in misconduct as defined in s 440F(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, for failing to comply with an applicable requirement of the Inner West Model Code of Conduct.

By way of background, following approval by Inner West Council to amendments being made a development control plan, a councillor at Inner West Council posted on her Facebook page which referred to her unhappiness in the amendments being approved and commenting that the mayor had been the one pushing for the amendments. In response, another councillor commented on the Facebook post, as well as other individuals. [...]  READ MORE →

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Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Wollongong Recycling (NSW) Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 125

The above case in the Land and Environment Court reminds us of the crucial role that investigators of a Public Authority, such as Council Officers, play in upholding the foundational principles and goals of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The carrying out of development without consent or not in accordance with the consent undermines the objects of the Act, and Council Officers are usually the ones who bring this conduct to the attention of the Court.

 “People need to be aware that the offence of carrying out development not in accordance with development consent is a crime, that offenders will be prosecuted and that the Court will impose significant penalties on offenders”  Chief Justice Preston [...]  READ MORE →

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Clarity Regarding Council Entry to a Residential Premise

The recent decision of the Land and Environment Court in Bobolas v Waverly Council (No 2) [2020], the latest instalment of cases between Bobolas and Waverly Council (‘Council’), provides clarity as to the powers of entry possessed by councils onto residential land. This decision considered an application for judicial review challenging a section 22A order issued by Council is accordance to section 124 of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) (‘the Act’).

The order sought by Council on 29 January 2020 was to remove waste and refrain from collecting further waste at the property by 26 February 2020. Pursuant to section 124 of the Act, a section 22A order enables council to issue such an order ‘to remove or dispose of waste that is on any residential premises or to refrain from keeping waste on those premises’ if ‘the waste is causing or is likely to cause a threat to public health or the health of any individual’. [...]  READ MORE →

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Difficulties due to COVID-19 not an excuse to vacate a hearing date

A recent decision in the Land and Environment Court to set aside a Registrar’s order that a three-day hearing be set aside substantially due to the difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the Court’s willingness to facilitate the continuation of hearings, where appropriate, despite the difficulties associated with virtual hearings.

In DVCI Pty Ltd v City of Parramatta Council [2020] NSWLEC 31, during a general call over of all matters pursuant to the Court’s adoption of the COVID-19 Pandemic Arrangements Policy, the solicitor for the City of Parramatta Council sought an order that the hearing the subject of the Class 1 Appeal, scheduled to take place in May 2020, be vacated. [...]  READ MORE →

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UTSG Pty Ltd v Sydney Metro (No 6) [2020] NSWLEC 63

A recent Land and Environment Court claim brought in respect of Class 3 proceedings to determine the compensation payable for the compulsory acquisition of a leasehold interest has resulted in the determination that the applicant be awarded nil compensation taking when into consideration outstanding occupation fees, as well as an order for a non-party cost against the director of the applicant company.

In late 2016, Sydney Metro served a Proposed Acquisition Notice on UTSG Pty Ltd (“UTSG”) in respect of its leasehold interest in premises located in Park Street, Sydney, for the purposes of construction of the Sydney Metro – City and South West Project. Sydney Metro had already acquired the freehold interest in the Park Street property, and advised UTSG they required vacant possession of the property by April 2017 and that rent remained payable for occupation of the premises. Rent remained at the amount previously paid by UTSG, being $31,402 per month (plus GST of $3,140) to be paid to Sydney Metro. [...]  READ MORE →

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Introduction of Local Government COVID 19 Regulations – Financial Relief

The State Government on 17 April 2020 has made the Local Government (General) Amendment (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 (‘COVID-19 Regulation’) to amend the Local Government (General) Regulations 2006 (‘Local Government Regulations’). This amendment was sparked by the strict procedural and financial provisions within the Local Government Act 1993 (‘Local Government Act’), limiting councils in providing financial relief for ratepayers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These changes to the Local Government Regulations has allowed councils to waiver or reduce fees in response to the pandemic and delay payment of an instalment of rates over the next month (from date amended). Additionally, the COVID-19 Regulation has permitted councils additional time to prepare the following documents over the next month (similar from date amended): [...]  READ MORE →