Charitou v The Owners – Strata Plan No 10394 [2021] NSWSC 392

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Charitou v The Owners – Strata Plan No 10394 [2021] NSWSC 392 Hearing dates: 22, 23 and 24 February 2021; further written submissions 25 February 2021 Date of orders: 19 April 2021 Decision date: 19 April 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Parker J Decision: See [86]-[90] Catchwords: CONTRACTS – construction – interpretation – contract for sale of land – completion conditional upon building works requiring development approval – completion date to be extended if purchaser brought legal proceedings concerning development approval or if works delayed for reasons outside purchaser's control or influence – whether extension applied to delays in obtaining development approval before commencement of proceedings – whether delay outside purchaser's control or influence – whether vendor subsequently repudiated the contract – purchaser not entitled to extension – no repudiation by vendor Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 (NSW), regs 109, 113(1)(a) Cases Cited: DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423 MK and JA Roche Pty Ltd v Metro Edgley Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 39 Secured Income Real Estate (Australia) Ltd v St Martins Investments Pty Ltd (1979) 144 CLR 596 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Greg Charitou (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) The Owners – Strata Plan No 10394 (Defendant/Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: AM Hochroth/EHG Steele (Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant) RA Parsons (Defendant/Cross-Claimant)