Khattar & anor v Wiese [2005] NSWSC 1014

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Khattar & anor v Wiese [2005] NSWSC 1014

HEARING DATE(S) : 18 August 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 7 October 2005

JUDGMENT OF : Brereton J

CATCHWORDS : REAL PROPERTY - EASEMENTS - imposition of easement by court - drainage easement - reasonable necessity - whether easement reasonably necessary for effective use and development of plaintiffs land - whether proposed use or development of dominant land reasonable - where grant of some easement reasonably necessary for proposed development - where three courses for creation of easement involving different servient properties - where council requirement for development consent included acquisition of drainage easement which would not interfere with trees - where particular proposed easement would interfere with trees - REASONABLE ATTEMPTS - whether plaintiff required to make all reasonable attempts to obtain easements over alternative course - whether plaintiff had demonstrated that all reasonable attempts had been made to obtain easement over alternative course - COMPENSATION - whether defendant could be adequately compensated for imposition of easement - adequacy of monetary compensation for intangible losses - where servient owner intends to sell - factors relevant to assessment of compensation - COSTS - whether s 88K(5) requires indemnity costs order as of course in favour of defendant.

Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s.88K LEGISLATION CITED : Supreme Court Act, s.63 Civil Procedure Act, ss.58, 60

Tregoyd Gardens Pty Limited v Jervis (1997) 8 BPR 15,845 Goodwin v Yee Holdings Pty Ltd (1997) 8 BPR 15,795 Re Seaforth Land Sales Pty Ltd's Land (No 2) [1977] Qd R 317 117 York Street Pty Limited v Proprietors of Strata Plan 16123 (1998) 43 NSWLR 504 Katakouzinos v Roufir Pty Limited (2000) 9 BPR 17,303; [1999] NSWSC 1045 Blulock Pty Limited v Majic (2001) 10 BPR 19,143 (2002) NSWConvR 56-012; [2001] NSWSC 1063 Re Seaforth Land Sales Pty Limited v Land [1976] QdR 190 Nelson v Calahorra Properties Pty Limited (QSC, Thomas J, 5 December 1984; affirmed [1985] QConvR 54-202) Ex parte Edward Street Properties Pty Limited [1977] QdR 86 Re Worthston Pty Limited [1987] 1 QdR 400 Durack v D E Winton (1998) 9 BPR 16,403 Hanny v Lewis (1999) 9 BPR 16,205; (1999) NSWConvR 55-879 Woodland v Manly Municipal Council (2003) 127 LGERA 120, [2003] NSWSC 392 Re Parimax SA Pty Ltd [1956] SR (NSW) 130 Heaton v Loblay (1960) 60 SR (NSW) 332 CASES CITED : Re Cook [1964] VR 808 Re Robinson [1972] VR 278 Mogensen v Portuland Developments Pty Ltd (1983) NSWConvR 55-116 Shelfer v City of London Electrical Lighting Co [1895] 1 Ch 287 Kelsen v Imperial Tobacco Co Ltd [1957] 2 QB 334 Owen v O'Connor [1964] NSWR 1312 Wollerton & Wilson Ltd v Richard Costain Ltd [1970] 1 All ER 483 Post Investments Pty Ltd v Wilson (1990) 26 NSWLR 598 Wakeham v Wood (1982) 43 P&CR 40 PD Consultants Pty Ltd v Leonard Childs [2004] NSWSC 1076 Bland v Levi (2000) NSWConvR 55-935 Annwrack Pty Ltd v Williams (NSWSC, Waddell CJ in Eq, 8 February 1989, BC8902584) Patrial Holdings Pty Ltd v Short (Cohen J, 14 July 1994, unreported) Mitchell v Boutagy (2001) 118 LGERA 249; (2001) 10 BPR 19,187; (2002) NSWConvR 56-024; [2001] NSWSC 1045 March v E M H Stramare Pty Limited (1991) 171 CLR 506 Wengarin Pty Limited v Byron Shire Council (1999) 9 BPR 16,985