McWilliam v Hunter [2022] NSWSC 342

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: McWilliam v Hunter [2022] NSWSC 342 Hearing dates: 15 March 2022 Date of orders: 28 March 2022 Decision date: 28 March 2022 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Darke J Decision: Plaintiffs entitled to injunctive relief to prevent defendants from building so as to allow a clearance height of 2.8m above right of carriageway. Catchwords: REAL PROPERTY – easements – unreasonable interference with an easement – where the plaintiffs seek declaratory and injunctive relief to restrain the defendants from building above right of carriageway – where proposed construction would impose a height limit of 2.8 metres over the right of carriageway – where height limit would preclude certain types of vehicles from using right of carriageway – held that the proposed interference with the right of carriageway was a real and substantial interference – held that the easement should not be modified under section 89(1) of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) to effect a height limitation – injunctive relief granted to prevent the defendants' proposed development Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 88B, 89(1), 181A(1), Sch 8, Pt 1 Cases Cited: Butler v Muddle (1995) 6 BPR 13,984 Frasers Lorne Pty Ltd v Burke (2008) 14 BPR 26,131; [2008] NSWSC 743 Hare v van Brugge (2013) 84 NSWLR 41; [2013] NSWCA 74 Lowe v Kladis (2018) 19 BPR 38,599; [2018] NSWCA 130 Middleton v Arthur (2002) 11 BPR 20,263; [2002] NSWSC 627 Owners of Strata Plan 48754 v Anderson (1999) 9 BPR 17,119; [1999] NSWSC 580 Pwllbach Colliery Company Ltd v Woodman [1915] AC 634 Re Mason and the Conveyancing Act (1960) 78 WN (NSW) 925 Sertari Pty Ltd v Nirimba Developments Pty Ltd (2008) NSW Conv R 56-200; [2007] NSWCA 324 Sheppard v Smith [2021] NSWSC 1207 Trewin v Felton (2007) 13 BPR 24,579; [2007] NSWSC 851 Westfield Management Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Company Ltd (2007) 233 CLR 528; [2007] HCA 45 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Phillip McWilliam (First Plaintiff/First Cross-Defendant) Susan McWilliam (Second Plaintiff/Second Cross-Defendant) Howard Hunter (First Defendant/First Cross-Claimant) Wendy Hunter (Second Defendant/Second Cross-Claimant) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Astill (Plaintiffs/Cross-Defendants) Mr P Folino-Gallo (Defendants/Cross-Claimants)