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NSW LAND & ENVIRONMENT COURT REPEATEDLY AND CONSISTENTLY JUDGES 'MIXED USE'

"FUNDAMENTALLY INCOMPATIBLE"

"Short-term residents have no long-term interest in the maintenance of the

amenity within the building or the surrounding area."

"The respondent readily agreed that she could not guarantee compliance with the

'Code of Conduct'. "I have no control over any other person do I really, in realism (sic),

I can only control my own conduct.  I can't control other - other people's conduct".

"The issue of short-term letting is an important and live issue which should come under close scrutiny, especially in light of the Coroner's Inquiry and Inquest into the death of Connie Zhang at Bankstown".

Assistant Director for NSW Fire & Rescue, Greg Buckley

Airbnb Sydney.jpg
Lookout Sydney!

22,659 Airbnb listings - 13 MAR 23

15,648 Airbnb listings - 01MAY16 

Every Day, Every Night...

Advertised globally 

on hundreds of websites

Please No!

“A tenancy granted to persons who are residing in a group situation for periods of a week or less for the purposes of bucks and hens nights, parties or for the use of escorts or strippers, is, in my opinion, not consistent with a use or occupation by a family or household group in the ordinary way of life, and therefore, not consistent with the use of the property as that of a “dwelling-house”…. Inherent within the term “domicile” is, as a long line of authority in this jurisdiction has established, the notion of a permanent home or, at the very least, a significant degree of permanence of habitation or occupation…  

 

(The Respondent) readily agreed that she could not guarantee compliance with the House Rules or the Code of Conduct.

 

…the harm caused to the environment is not limited to the undermining of the planning regime.  The adverse impact on the amenity and wellbeing of the (Residents) has been, as the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates, severe.

By leaving it to the Court to determine this important issue, the council, by its inaction, has, in my opinion, failed to fulfil its core functions and has failed its constituents.”

“There is a difference in the living and activity patterns and behaviour of short and long-term residents...  Short term residents have no long-term interest in the maintenance of the amenity within the building or the surrounding area… 

The proposal will require extensive building upgrades for fire safety and for access for persons with a disability. The proposal will likely lead to a disproportionate financial burden on long-term residents, in terms of retrofitting the building, and as well, for operational repairs and maintenance.”  

New South Wales Land and Environment Court Case Law

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STATE GOVERNMENT REPORT

(See page 7) 

“In 2014, there were an estimated 216,000 STHL premises in NSW/ACT.

The number of listings via online platforms is more than doubling each year between 2011-2015…”

This report appears to have been deleted from the internet by State Government Departments.

You can still find a copy HERE.

 

Click on Links below for Case Law Orders and Judgments

[1992] NSWLEC 43 - Justice J Bignold - North Sydney Council v Sydney Serviced Apartments Pty Ltd

[2001] NSWLEC 10086 - Justice J Cowdroy - Foster v Sutherland Shire Council

[2007] NSWLEC 88 - Justice C Brown - 187 Kent Street v Council of the City of Sydney

[2007] NSWLEC 382 - Justice J Jagot - 187 Kent Street v Council of the City of Sydney - Appeal - fundamental incompatibility

[2008] NSWLEC 97 - Justice J Pain - Council of the City of Sydney v Waldorf Apartments Hotel Sydney Pty Limited and Anor ('Additional issue, 76') and ('Finding on discretion, 79')

[2010] NSWLEC 182 - Justice J Sheahan - Council of the City of Sydney v Oaks Hotels and Resorts (NSW) No.2 Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 182

[2011] NSWLEC 234 - Justice J Sheahan - Council of the City of Sydney v Oaks Harmony

[2011] NSWLEC 235 - Justice J Sheahan - Council of the City of Sydney v Oaks Hotels and Resorts (re Maestri)

[2011] NSWLEC 1054 - Justice C Murrell - Council of the City of Sydney v Oaks Hotels and Resorts (re Maestri)

[2012] NSWLEC 40466 - Byron Shire Council v Blaney – 21 Bay Vista Lane, Ewingsdale (pages 46-50 of document

[2012] NSWLEC 143 - Justice AJ Lloyd - GraiCorp Operations Limited v Liverpool Plains Shire Council

[2013] NSWLEC 61 - Justice J Pepper - Dobrohotoff v Bennic 

[2014] NSWLEC - Case No. 14/4923 - Council of the City of Sydney v Con Kotis / Australian Executive Apartments W

[2017] NSWLEC 188 - Sun v Randwick City Council

[2019] NSWLEC 45 - Tweed Shire Council v Taylor

[2019] NSWLEC 1238 - Sherman v Newcastle City Council

[2022] NSWLED 1650 - Wookey v Byron Shire Council

Examples of substantive case law to support the Class 2 classification position going forward. 

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/vic/VSCA/2013/365.html

www.corrs.com.au/publications/corrs-in-brief/land-and-environment-court-clarifies-

meaning-of-residential-buildings/

In the GrainCorp Operations Limited v Liverpool Plains Shire Council [2012] NSWLEC 143 decision, the Land and Environment Court (Court) decision helps clarify the meaning of “residential” use.

At all times the management of the site reserved the right to re-allocate rooms to occupants on a needs basis and no occupant was permitted to stay longer than a pre-determined lengthof time.

The Court confirmed the question of the proper characterisation of use as a jurisdictional fact; being a fact that must exist as a condition precedent to the proper exercise of a consent authority’s power.

 

The NSW Land and Environment Court has analysed case law on the definitions of "residential accommodation”, “residential building”, “residential flat building”, “domicile” and “flats”, and concluded that there must be “an element of permanence or residence for a considerable time, or having the character of a person’s settled or usual abode” in order to constitute “residential buildings”; relying particularly on North Sydney Municipal Council v Sydney Serviced Apartments Pty Ltd (1990)21 NSWLR 532 and Derring Lane Pty Ltd v Port Phillip City Council (No 2) (1999) 108 LGERA 129.

While Legislators in New South Wales impose moratoriums and fail to legislate against short-term letting, in Canada action still continues:  [2016] Ottawa-Charleton Standard Condominium Corporation No 961 v Menzies (2016)

ABC Radio North Coast Interview 09/08/23 - Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon and Neighbours Not Strangers

ABC North Coast
00:00 / 08:28
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