State of NSW v Scharer [2003] NSWCA 328

Reported Decision : 131 LGERA 208

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : State of NSW v Scharer [2003] NSWCA 328 HEARING DATE(S) : 28 October 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 December 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Ipp JA at 2; Tobias JA at 3 DECISION : (a) Appeal allowed; (b) Orders 1, 2, 3 and 4 made by Pearlman J on 19 March 2003 be set aside; (c) The amended Summons dated 26 June 2000 filed in the Equity Division of the Supreme Court, but transferred to the Land & Environment Court on 25 October 2000, be dismissed with costs; (d) The respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the appeal but to have, if otherwise qualified, a certificate under the Suitor's Fund Act 1951

CATCHWORDS : REAL PROPERTY - whether proprietary estoppel - whether party entitled to right of way through Crown land - ND Metropolitan Water Sewerage & Drainage Act 1924, ss4, 26(2), 55, 55(4), 55(4)(b)(i), 56A, 56(4), Evidence Act, s 69 National Parks & Wildlife Act 1974, ss153(3), 39, 153B(1), 134B(2) LEGISLATION CITED : Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913, ss4, 6, 26(1), 26(2), 63, 64B Native Land Trust Ordinance of Fiji , s12 Conveyancing Act 1919, s68(1) Crown Lands Act 1864, ss5, 6 Suitors Fund Act 1951 Ramsden v Dyson [1866] LR 1 HL 129 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Limited v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387 Crabb v Arun District Council [1976] 1 Ch. 179 Cheney & Anor v Solienta Pty Ltd & Ors [2000] NSWCA 248 Fensom & Anor v Cootamundra Racecourse Reserve Trust & Ors [2000] NSWSC 1072 CASES CITED : Chalmers v Pardoe [1963] 1 WLR 677 Wood v Browne [1984] 2 Qd R 593 Lukey v Sydney Harbour Trust Commissioner (1902) 2 SR (NSW) 152 Attorney General v The Municipal Council of Sydney (1919) 20 SR(NSW) Plimmer v The Mayor of Wellington (1884) 9 App Cas 699 The New South Wales Trotting Club Ltd v The Council of the Municipality of Glebe (1937) 37 SR(NSW) 268 PARTIES : State of New South Wales Geoffrey Francis Scharer FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40277/03 COUNSEL : A: Mr. A. Robertson SC / M Leeming R: Mr. Ireland QC SOLICITORS : A: National Parks and Wildlife Service R: Eddy & Maloney, Paddington