Castagna v Great Wall Resources Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 942

Reported Decision : (2006) NSW ConvR 56-148

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Castagna v Great Wall Resources Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 942

HEARING DATE(S) : 10, 11 May 2005; 1 September 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 20 September 2005

JURISDICTION : Equity Division

JUDGMENT OF : Young CJ in Eq

DECISION : Easement partially extinguished.

CATCHWORDS : REAL PROPERTY [436]- Easements- Extinguishment or modification of right of way- Right of way on title since 1921- Semi-rural farmland- Right of way gives access to main road- Not used in long time- New public roads built giving alternate access to main road- Part of right of way no longer needed- Substantial improvements needed for right of way to be used for intended purpose- Whether new roads establish change in neighbourhood- Whether difficult test of abandonment overcome- Whether any reasonable use of servient tenement possible without extinguishment or modification- Whether substantial injury to person benefiting from easement if modified or extinguished- Easement partially extinguished.

Conveyancing Act 1919, s 89(1), 181A LEGISLATION CITED : Real Property Act 1900, s 49 Transfer of Land Act 1893 (WA) s 129C

Coles Myer NSW Ltd v Dymocks Book Arcarde Ltd (1996) 9 BPR 16,939 Gotobed v Pridmore (1970) 115 Sol Jo 78 Grill v Hockey (1991) 5 BPR 11,421 Heaton v Loblay (1959) 60 SR (NSW) 332 James v Stevenson [1893] AC 162 Morpath Pty Ltd v ACT Youth Accommodation Group Inc (1987) 16 FCR 325 Oleander Nominees Pty Ltd v Owners of Lakeside Villas SP 14025 (Hasluck J, 8.11.02 unreported, BC 2002 06653) CASES CITED : Re Henderson's Conveyance [1940] Ch 835 Stannard v Issa [1987] AC 175 Straven Services Ltd v Waimairi County [1966] NZLR 996 Swan v Sinclair [1925] AC 227 Treweeke v 36 Wolseley Road Pty Ltd (1973) 128 CLR 274 Tujilo v Watts [2005] NSWSC 209 TZ Developments Pty Ltd v Rickman Pty Ltd (1993) 7 BPR 14,605 Wall v Australian Real Estate Investment Co Ltd [1978] WAR 187