Nahata v Robertson [2023] NSWSC 642

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Nahata v Robertson [2023] NSWSC 642 Hearing dates: 23 – 24 May 2023 Decision date: 15 June 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity - Real Property List Before: Peden J Decision: Plaintiffs' Amended Statement of Claim is dismissed: see [142] Catchwords: LAND LAW — Easements — Creation of easements — Creation by order of court — Where plaintiffs seeking stormwater drainage easement to facilitate residential development — Whether easement reasonably necessary for development — Whether there is sufficient evidence to determine question of reasonable necessity — Where easement not identified with precision — Where no easement imposed — Where question of compensation does not arise LAND LAW — Easements — Whether reasonable attempts made to obtain the easement or an easement having the same effect — Where alternative easement traversed other properties — Where limited evidence of correspondence with other owners — Where uncertainties associated with proposed easement ignored — Where uncertainties related to impact on retaining wall — Where reasonable attempts not made to obtain the easement Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) ss 88(1), 88K Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 53, 91 Cases Cited: 117 York Street Pty Ltd v Proprietors of Strata Plan No 16123 (1998) 43 NSWLR 504 Coles Myer NSW Ltd v Dymocks Book Arcade Ltd (1996) 7 BPR 14,638 Gordon v Lever (2018) 97 NSWLR 90 Govindan-Lee v Sawkins [2016] NSWSC 328 Khattar v Wiese [2005] NSWSC 1014 McGrath v Mestousis [2017] NSWSC 995 Mitchell v Boutagy [2001] NSWSC 1045 Moorebank Recyclers Pty Ltd v Tanlane Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 445 Rainbowforce Pty Ltd v Skyton Holdings Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 2 Smith v Woodley-Beattie [2009] NSWSC 380 Sodhi v Stanes [2007] NSWSC 177 Stepanoski v Chen [2011] NSWSC 1573 Studholme v Rawson (2020) 102 NSWLR 490 Tregoyd Gardens Pty Ltd v Jervis (1997) 8 BPR 15,845 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Himanshu Nahata (First Plaintiff) Priyanka Jain (Second Plaintiff) Russell Robertson (First Defendant) Stana Robertson (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Lee, solicitor (Plaintiffs) J Rogers (Defendants)