Ocelota Ltd. Ltd. & Ors. v. Water Administration Ministerial Corporation & Anor. [2000] NSWSC 370

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Ocelota Ltd. Ltd. & Ors. v. Water Administration Ministerial Corporation & Anor. [2000] NSWSC 370 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Equity Division FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 4134/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 10/04/00 & 11/04/00 JUDGMENT DATE : 9 May 2000

Ocelota Pty. Limited - 1st plaintiff N.F. & M.A. Harris - 2nd plaintiffs Pandiona Pty. Limited & Adantro Pty. Ltd. - 3rd plaintiffs PARTIES : Rolabah Pty. Limited - 4th plaintiff Poath Pty. Limited - 5th plaintiff Water Administration Ministerial Corporation - 1st defendant Colly Farms Limited - 2nd defendant JUDGMENT OF : Hodgson CJinEq at 1

A.J. Meagher SC with P.E. Brereton for plaintiffs COUNSEL : D.J. Hammerschlag & V. Kerr for 2nd defendant Submitting appearance for 1st defendant SOLICITORS : Magney & Rhodes, Sydney for plaintiffs Landerer & Company, Sydney for 2nd defendant CATCHWORDS : LANDLORD & TENANT - Rent - Payable in advance - Lease terminated during period for which rent paid - Whether proportion of rent recoverable - RESTITUTION - Rent paid in advance - Lease terminated without fault of lessee - Failure of consideration - WATER - Lease entitling lessee to use of water rights under authority under Water Act - Whether lessee as one holder of that authority could transfer water allocation - Whether lease authorised use of water only on leased property LEGISLATION CITED : Conveyancing Act 1919 s.144 Water Act ss.5(1), 5(2), 19, 20(1), 20B, 20E, 20F, 20V(1) & (2), 20AG, 20AH, 20AI(1), (2), (4), (5) & (6) CASES CITED : Ellis v. Rowbotham (1900) 1QB 740 distinguished DECISION : See par.84 of judgment