Noon v The Owners - Strata Plan No. 22422 [2014] NSWSC 1260

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Noon v The Owners - Strata Plan No. 22422 [2014] NSWSC 1260 Hearing dates: 25 - 26 August 2014 Decision date: 16 September 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Darke J Decision: Declarations to be made that two strata scheme by-laws are invalid and of no effect, and that certain property is not used as a retirement village. Catchwords: STRATA SCHEMES - by-laws - by-law conferring exclusive use of common property in favour of entity who is not a lot owner - whether by-law may be made pursuant to general power of the body corporate to manage the common property - Strata Titles Act 1973 (NSW) s 58 - Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW) s 47

RETIREMENT VILLAGES - whether lot in a strata scheme used as a retirement village - no contractual relationship between owner of lot and operator of retirement village - Retirement Villages Act 1999 (NSW) s 24A

REMEDIES - declarations - discretion to withhold relief - availability of alternative remedies - inordinate delay - detriment Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW) s 88B Probate and Administration Act 1898 (NSW) s 44 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Retirement Villages Act 1989 (NSW) Retirement Villages Act 1999 (NSW) ss 5(1), 24A Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW) ss 43(4), 47, 49, 51, 52, 159 Strata Titles Act 1973 (NSW) ss 25, 58 Strata Titles (Freehold Development) Act 1973 (NSW)Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bondi Beach Astra Retirement Village Pty Ltd v Gora [2010] NSWSC 81 Bondi Beach Astra Retirement Village Pty Ltd v Gora and Another [2011] NSWCA 396; (2011) 82 NSWLR 665 C G Maloney Pty Ltd v Noon [2011] NSWCA 397 Carre v Owners Corporation - SP 53020 [2003] NSWSC 397; (2003) 58 NSWLR 302 Dainford Limited v Smith and another [1985] HCA 23; (1985) 155 CLR 342 Lin & Anor v The Owners - Strata Plan No. 50276 [2004] NSWSC 88; (2005) NSW ConvR 56-105 Noon v Bondi Beach Astra Retirement Village Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 202 Owners - Strata Plan No 43551 v Walter Construction Group Ltd [2004] NSWCA 429; (2004) 62 NSWLR 169 Platt v Ciriello [1998] 2 Qd R 417 The Owners of Strata Plan No 3397 v Tate [2007] NSWCA 207; (2007) 70 NSWLR 344 White v Betalli and Another [2006] NSWSC 537; (2006) 66 NSWLR 690 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gregory Brian Noon (first plaintiff) Matthew Jack Noon (second plaintiff)