Onus v Telstra Corporation Limited [2011] NSWSC 33

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Onus v Telstra Corporation Limited [2011] NSWSC 33 Hearing dates: 25 August 2010,2 September 2010,3 September 2010,7 October 2010 Decision date: 10 February 2011 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Price J Decision: (1) Defendant is restrained from erecting any structure over a height of 18 metres at the property at 33 McIntosh Street, The Oaks, in the State of New South Wales, 2570 being the land comprised in folio identifier 21/730754 Catchwords: TORTS - quia timet injunction - whether intended height of Telecommunications tower a risk to safety of aircraft using plaintiff's airfield - whether public nuisance - whether plaintiff has standing - whether private nuisance - no emanation from defendant's land - whether substantial and unreasonable interference with plaintiff's land - extent of grant of quia timet relief Legislation Cited: Civil Aviation Regulations 1988 (Cth) Cases Cited: Attorney-General v PYA Quarries Ltd [1957] 2 QB 169 Coalcliff Community Association Inc v Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning [1999] NSWCA 317; (1999) 106 LGERA 243 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council, Ghantous v Hawkesbury City Council [2001] HCA 29; (2001) 206 CLR 512 Commonwealth ex rel v VonBestecki, 30 Pa. D. & C. 137 (Pa.Com.Pl. 1937) Elston v Dore [1982] HCA 71; (1982) 149 CLR 480 Hargrave v Goldman [1963] HCA 56; (1963) 110 CLR 40 Hunter & Ors v Canary Wharf Ltd [1997] 1 AC 655 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery [2007] HCA 6; (2007) 230 CLR 22 Manitoba (Attorney General) v Campbell (1983) 26 CCLT 168 McFadzean v Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union [2007] VSCA 289; (2007) 20 VR 250 Melaleuca Estate Pty Ltd v Port Stephens Council [2006] NSWCA 31 Oakley v Simmons 799 SW 2d 669, (Tenn.Ct.App., 1990) R v Goldstein [2006] 1 AC 459 R v Rimmington [2006] 1 AC 459 Rickard v Allianz Australia Ltd [2009] NSWSC 1115 Robinson v Kilvert 41 ChD 88 Robson v Leischke [2008] NSWLEC 152; (2008) 72 NSWLR 98 Sedleigh-Denfield v O'Callaghan [1940] AC 880 Southport Corporation v Esso Petroleum Co Ltd [1954] 2 QB 182 Sutherland Shire Council v Becker [2006] NSWCA 344 Thompson-Schwab v Costaki [1956] 1 All ER 652; [1956] 1 WLR 335 United Airports Co of California v Hinman (1940) US Av R 1 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Grahame Dudley Onus (Plaintiff) Telstra Corporation Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J McCarthy QC with J O'Sullivan (Plaintiff) S Duggan SC with M McMahon (Defendant)