Sharp v Kiama Council [2024] NSWLEC 1360
This case concerned a dispute over residential lot sizes in an environmental plan. Commissioner Espinoza (at [41]) commented on the correct way instruments of this kind are to be interpreted. He quoted Robson J in another case for the following10.
(1) The same principles applied to statutes apply to environmental planning instruments11. (2) This involves the ‘text>context>purpose’ approach, as in SZTAL12. (3) These instruments are to be read in a ‘practical manner’ avoiding meticulous analysis. (4) This does not override general principles, however, nor does it call for ‘laxity or flexibility’13. iTip – our system generally avoids intense linguistic analysis.
This principle is from Episode 111 of interpretation NOW!
Footnotes:
10 Elimatta [2021] NSWLEC 75 [43-45], cf Australian [2023] NSWLEC 49 [55].
11 Cranbrook [2006] NSWCA 155 [36] cited, cf Episodes 36 & 88.
12 SZTAL [2017] 34 [14] quoted, cf R v A2 [2019] HCA 35 [32-33].
13 Tovir [2014] NSWCA 379 [54], 4nature [2017] NSWCA 191 [45] cited.