Vella v Nergl Developments Pty Ltd & Ors [2020] NSWSC 1405

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Vella v Nergl Developments Pty Ltd & Ors [2020] NSWSC 1405 Hearing dates: 18, 19 & 20 November 2019 Date of orders: 13 October 2020 Decision date: 13 October 2020 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Slattery J Decision: Declarations made. Specific performance decree made. Directions made for submissions in relation to costs. Catchwords: LAND LAW – Easements – Modification of easements – Heads of Agreement ("Heads") record an agreement to settle proceedings after a mediation – Heads provide for the registration of a right of carriageway over certain rural land and the lifting of caveats over that land – several disputes arise between the parties in relation to the performance of the Heads – what is the precise width and configuration of the easement at its southern end – whether the Heads imply the creation of a supplementary easement to permit the completion of the construction of a sealed roadway along the easement – at what point of time should the caveats be removed – what does the Heads require for the easement to be put in registrable form. EQUITY – Equitable remedies – Specific performance – specific performance sought of Heads – whether a further deed is required to give effect to the existing Heads – whether a decree for specific performance of the Heads should be granted and if so, on what terms. Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005, s 73 Conveyancing Act 1919, Schedule 8, ss 88B, 88K Real Property Act 1900, ss 74MA(2), 74MA(2)(a), 74MA(2)(b), 88B Roads Act 1993, ss 175, 175(1) Cases Cited: Bidder v North Staffordshire Railway Co (1878) 4 QBD 412 BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Hastings Shire Council (1977) 180 CLR 266 Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 Byrne & Frew v Australian Airlines Ltd (1995) 185 CLR 410 Chillingworth v Chambers [1896] 1 Ch 685 Electricity Generation Corp v Woodside Energy Ltd; Woodside Energy Ltd v Electricity Generation Corp (2014) 251 CLR 640 Forsyth v Blundell (1973) 129 CLR 477 Hawkins v Clayton & Ors (1988) 164 CLR 539 Hanson v Keating (1844) 4 Hare 1 Ingham Planning Pty Limited v Penrith City Council [2006] NSWLEC 666 Langman v Handover (1929) 43 CLR 334 Masters v Cameron (1954) 91 CLR 353 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104 Newcomen v Coulson (1877) 5 Ch. D. 133 Stefanetto v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [1975] 1 NSWLR 332 Taouk v Ho [2019] NSWCA 156 Tidd v Lister; Bassil v Lister (1852) 10 Hare 140 Texts Cited: JD Heydon, MJ Leeming, PG Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines and Remedies (5th ed, 2015, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Plaintiff: Vicki Vella First Defendant/Cross Claimant: Nergl Developments Pty Limited ACN 008 645 734 Second Defendant: Michael Vella Third Defendant: Peter Vella Fourth Defendant/Cross Claimant: Kindelon Pty Ltd Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff: J. Sexton SC; D. Neggo First and Fourth Defendant/Cross Claimants: D. Miller SC; P.R. Gaffney