Crawley v Baxter (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 648

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Crawley v Baxter (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 648 Hearing dates: 6 – 8 April, 24 June and 21 July 2022. Further evidence and submissions filed pursuant to leave granted on 2 November 2022. Date of orders: 16 June 2023 Decision date: 16 June 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Henry J Decision: Order made pursuant to s 88K of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) imposing an easement for a right of carriageway over the defendant's land. Catchwords: LAND LAW — easements — application for easement under s 88K of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) for right of carriageway over adjacent land — whether easement reasonably necessary for effective use of plaintiff's rural land — where plaintiff's land has no direct access to public road system — where vehicle access between public road and plaintiff's land only presently practically available over defendant's land — where evidence of long-term past use — where track created in 2016 along path of proposed easement — whether easement substantially preferable to alternative access options through conservation area — whether plaintiff made all reasonable attempts to obtain easement or easement having same effect — whether discretion to impose easement should be exercised — easement imposed — determination of costs deferred Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) Crown Lands Act 1884 (NSW) Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 (NSW) Gloucester Local Environment Plan 2010 (NSW) Government Telecommunications Act 2018 (NSW) National Park Estate (Reservations) Act 2003 (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Regulations 2019 (NSW) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Roads Act 1993 (NSW) State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: 117 York Street Pty Ltd v Proprietors of Strata Plan 16123 (1998) 43 NSWLR 504 Arcidiacono v The Owners – Strata Plan No 17719; Arcidiacono v The Owners – Strata Plan No 61233 (2020) 104 NSWLR 199; [2020] NSWCA 269 City of Canterbury v Saad (2013) 195 LGERA 329; [2013] NSWCA 251 Community Association DP270447 v ATB Morton Pty Ltd (2019) 19 BPR 39277; [2019] NSWCA 83 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Gordon v Lever (2018) 97 NSWLR 90; [2018] NSWCA 43 Gordon v Lever (No 2) (2019) 101 NSWLR 427; [2019] NSWCA 275 Grattan v Simpson (1998) 9 BPR 16,649 Hanny v Lewis (1998) 9 BPR 16,205; [1998] NSWSC 385 ING Bank (Aust) Ltd v O'Shea (2010) 14 BPR 27,317; [2010] NSWCA 71 Khattar v Wiese (2005) 12 BPR 23,235; [2005] NSWSC 1014 Lonergan v Lewis [2011] NSWSC 1133 Menassa v Shi (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 168 Moorebank Recyclers Pty Ltd v Tanlane Pty Ltd (2012) 16 BPR 31,257; [2012] NSWCA 445 Owners Strata Plan 13635 v Ryan (2006) 12 BPR 23,485; [2006] NSWSC 221 Property Partnerships Pacific Pty Ltd v The Owners of Strata Plan 58482 [2006] NSWLEC 709 Rainbowforce Pty Ltd v Skyton Holdings Pty Ltd (2010) 171 LGERA 286; [2010] NSWLEC 2 Shi v Abi-K Pty Ltd (2014) 87 NSWLR 568; [2014] NSWCA 293 Studholme v Rawson [2020] NSWCA 76 The Owners – Strata Plan 85044 v Murrell; Murrell v The Owners – Strata Plan 85044 (2020) 19 BPR 40,575; [2020] NSWSC 20 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Weissflog v Community Association DP 270159 (2022) 20 BPR 42,265; [2022] NSWSC 239 Texts Cited: Brendan Edgeworth, Butt's Land Law (7th ed, 2017, Lawbook Co) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Edwin Crawley (Plaintiff) John Baxter (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Trebeck (Plaintiff) S Doupe (Defendant)