Bobolas v Waverley Council

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT delivered by McCOLL JA: The appellants, Ms Mary Bobolas and her daughters, Elena and Liana Bobolas, appeal from orders made by Sheahan J on 24 April 2015 in the Land and Environment Court (“LEC”) permitting Waverley Council, the respondent, to carry out various safety, demolition and removal works at the appellants’ residence, located at 19 Boonara Avenue, Bondi.

At the commencement of the hearing the appellants applied for an adjournment on the basis that the respondent had failed to include relevant documents in the appeal books. The omissions identified were a facsimile said to have been sent by the appellants to Pain J prior to 20 March 2015 (the date on which her Honour delivered a decision from which the appellants also appeal) and transcripts said to relate to proceedings before Registrars and/or Assistant Registrars of the LEC. The omissions were said to have been communicated to the respondent's solicitor by a letter posted on or about 30 March 2016. The Court was informed by the respondent that no such letter has been received.

No copy of the facsimile said to have been omitted has been provided by the appellants, and no satisfactory explanation has been given as to how, in any event, the facsimile and/or the transcripts of the proceedings before any Registrar or Assistant Registrar could affect the substantive relief sought, which is to set aside the orders made by Pain J and Sheahan J. This is despite the fact that, since they are unrepresented, the Court gave the appellants an extended opportunity to explain how the documents said to have been omitted from the appeal books could affect the outcome of the appeal.

The Court is not satisfied that any of the documents said to be omitted from the appeal books are capable of casting any light on the issues identified in the notice of appeal. The application for an adjournment is rejected.