Supreme Court declares landowner is required to pay outstanding infrastructure charges

In brief – The Supreme Court has dismissed an application by a landowner seeking a declaration that it was not liable to pay unpaid infrastructure charges by way of a rate notice it received as the owner of the land in relation to a development approval which was obtained and acted upon by a tenant. […]

Readmore

Demolition of pre-1947 residential building refused

In brief – The Planning and Environment Court has refused a development application for a preliminary approval for building work to facilitate a demolition of a pre-1947 residential building at Albion, as the street in which it was located contained visual and traditional character and the demolition of the building would result in a loss […]

Readmore

Jail time for subcontractor convicted of providing false information

In brief –The Magistrates Court has sentenced a man to two months’ imprisonment after being convicted of four offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, in a decision that demonstrates that courts will not shy away from prison time when dealing with the provision of false and misleading information.   Key take outs It is […]

Readmore

Court declares development application for telecommunications tower unlawful

In brief – The Planning and Environment Court made declarations that the assessment of a telecommunication facility was code and not impact assessable under the local government’s planning scheme, and consequently the decision of the local government to assess the application on the basis it was impact assessable was void and of no effect. This […]

Readmore

No compensation for the developer after Court refuses application to convert non-trunk infrastructure to trunk infrastructure – Insights for developers and infrastructure providers

In brief –The Planning and Environment Court has for the first time decided an application by a developer to convert non-trunk infrastructure to trunk infrastructure. In a decision that has significant financial implications for developers and infrastructure providers, the Court refused the application and provided guidance on the determination of future conversion applications.   Implications […]

Readmore

Changes to a staged residential subdivision in Burnside were considered to be permissible changes

Highgate Developments Pty Ltd v Sunshine Coast Regional Council – What’s the case about? The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the matter of Highgate Developments Pty Ltd v Sunshine Coast Regional Council [2017] QPEC37 which involved a permissible change request made by Highgate Developments Pty Ltd to the Sunshine Coast Regional Council […]

Readmore

Council was ordered to pay the applicant’s costs insofar as it related to a hearing to determine whether conditions ought to be included in a development approval for a residential development in Morayfield

The Planning and Environment Court in the matter of Wust v Moreton Bay Regional Council (No. 2) [2017] QPEC 36 made an order requiring the Moreton Bay Regional Council to pay Brian Wust’s costs of the appeal to the extent that the costs related to the disputed conditions. Otherwise, each party was to bear their […]

Readmore

Denial of procedural fairness – remit to a new Committee

Amos v Brisbane City Council – What’s the case about? The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Amos v Brisbane City Council [2017] QPEC 33 which involved an appeal by Edward Amos against the decision of the Building and Development Committee to allow the Brisbane City Council to give him an […]

Readmore

Approval of a subdivision of productive agricultural or rural land in Mothar Mountain

The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Wason v Gympie Regional Council [2017] QPEC 34, which involved an appeal by Lee Wason against the Gympie Regional Council’s decision to refuse a development application for a development permit for reconfiguring a lot (1 into 2) on land located in Mothar Mountain. […]

Readmore

Character housing is important to the community

Althaus & Anor v Brisbane City Council – What’s the case about? The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Althaus & Anor v Brisbane City Council [2017] QPEC 41 which involved an appeal by Nathan and Laura Althaus against the Brisbane City Council’s decision to refuse their development application seeking a […]

Readmore

Enforcement orders issued to remedy significant risks posed by unlawful carport and photovoltaic solar panels structures

Gold Coast City Council v Bush & Anor – What’s the case about? The Planning and Environment Court delivered a decision in the case of Gold Coast City Council v Bush & anor [2017] QPEC 29 which involved an application made by Gold Coast City Council to the Court seeking an enforcement order under section 604 […]

Readmore

Approval of an extension request for multiple unit residential development – consistent with current planning scheme and sufficient community awareness

Lake Maroona Pty Ltd v Gladstone Regional Council – What’s the case about? The Planning and Environment Court of Queensland delivered a decision in the case of Lake Maroona Pty Ltd v Gladstone Regional Council [2017] QPEC 25 which involved an appeal by Lake Maroona against the Gladstone Regional Council’s refusal of a request for […]

Readmore