Probert v The Estate of the Late Amiel Colin Christie [2023] NSWSC 1554

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Probert v The Estate of the Late Amiel Colin Christie [2023] NSWSC 1554 Hearing dates: 14 November 2023 Date of orders: 12 December 2023 Decision date: 12 December 2023 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: McGrath J Decision: The plaintiffs are to discontinue proceedings 2022/180134 Catchwords: EQUITY — specific performance — where the defendants' property is burdened by a restriction on the use of land imposing height limitations on trees and vegetation — where the parties entered into a deed of agreement that made provision for the lawful removal of nine trees on the defendants' property — where council approval was only obtained for the removal of two trees — whether the defendants are required to consent to further applications being lodged with council for the removal of the remaining trees contemplated in the deed — whether the defendants have satisfied their obligations pursuant to the deed so as to require the plaintiffs to discontinue separate proceedings in this court — court to consider the proper construction of the deed Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 (NSW) Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Chang v Kur-ring-gai Council [2022] NSWLEC 1240 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337; [1982] HCA 24 Cordon Investments Pty Ltd v Lesdor Properties Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 184 DTR Nominees Pty Ltd v Mona Homes Pty Ltd (1978) 138 CLR 423 Dyco Hotels Pty Ltd v Laundy Hotels (Quarry) Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 504 Fox Entertainment Precinct Pty Ltd v Centennial Park & Moore Park Trust [2004] NSWSC 214 Global Network Services Pty Ltd v Legion Telecall Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 279 Handley v Gunner [2008] NSWCA 113 HP Mercantile Pty Ltd v Hartnett [2016] NSWCA 342 Langley v Foster (1906) 4 CLR 167 Laundy Hotels (Quarry) Pty Ltd v Dyco Hotels Pty Ltd [2023] HCA 6 Long v City of Parramatta Council [2021] NSWLEC 1262 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Partridge v Preddey (1904) 4 SR (NSW) 36 Private Mortgages Australia Pty Limited ACN 600 628 813 as trustee for the PMA Trust v Stever [2019] NSWSC 462 Probert v Christie [2021] NSWLEC 1529 Rinehart v Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd; Rinehart v Rinehart (2019) 267 CLR 514; [2019] HCA 13 Rossi Recycling Pty Ltd v Buckland Valley Pty Ltd [2022] VSC 467 Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2004) 219 CLR 165; [2004] HCA 52 Western Australian Rugby Union v Australian Rugby Union Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1174 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Keith Carwardine Probert (First Plaintiff) Susan Elizabeth Probert (Second Plainitff) The Estate of Late Amiel Colin Christie (First Defendant) David Amiel Bruce Christie (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Foda (Plaintiffs) A Fernon SC with M Barnes (Defendants)