Oriental Bar Pty Limited v Valuer-General

Land and Environment Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Oriental Bar Pty Limited v Valuer-General [2015] NSWLEC 59 Hearing dates:10-12 September, 24-26 November 2014Decision date: 17 April 2015 Jurisdiction:Class 3Before: Pain J Decision: See paragraph 102 Catchwords: VALUATION – appeals – valuation of lands to which heritage restriction applies – use of lands for hotels – comparable sales method of assessing land value applied – appropriate highest and best use to inform selection of comparable sales Legislation Cited: City of Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2012 Valuation of Land Act 1916 s 4, s 6A, s 14G, s 40 Texts Cited: Rawlinsons Construction Handbook (30th ed 2012) Category:Principal judgmentParties: Oriental Bar Pty Limited (First and Second Applicants) Michael James Courtney and Ors (Third and Sixth Applicants) Surfside Pty Ltd and Ors (Fourth and Fifth Applicants) Valuer-General (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr I Hemmings SC with Ms A Pearman (Applicants) Mr R White (Respondent) Solicitors: Hatzis Cusack Lawyers (Applicants) Crown Solicitor’s Office (Respondent) File Number(s):30010-14 of 2014 , 30339 of 2014JudgmentAppeals against valuation of lands Three Applicants have commenced six appeals against the Valuer-General's determination of land values under the Valuation of Land Act 1916 (the VL Act). The three properties the subject of the appeals are 701 George Street, Haymarket (Mountbatten Hotel); 198-200 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills (Triple Ace Hotel); and 358-387 Sussex Street (Star Hotel). The appeals concern base dates in 2010 and 2012. I thank Acting Commissioner Parker for his assistance in this matter. The Court's powers on appeal...