The Owners – Strata Plan No 5225 v Registrar General of New South Wales [2017] NSWSC 886

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Owners – Strata Plan No 5225 v Registrar General of New South Wales [2017] NSWSC 886 Hearing dates: 21 June 2017 Date of orders: 26 July 2017 Decision date: 26 July 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Pembroke J Decision: See paragraph [72] Catchwords: PUBLIC ROAD – dedication at common law – unmade road – land described as road in subdivision created before 1906 – acceptance and use by public – maintenance by Council STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – s224(3) Local Government Act, 1919 – freestanding operation not subject to s327 – not opening or dedication of road STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – s327 Local Government Act – scope and operation – inapplicable to exercise of s224(3) power ADVERSE POSSESSION – exclusive physical control – intention to possess as against whole world – not established STANDING – entitlement of body corporate to sue – adjoining land Legislation Cited: Local Government Act 1906 Local Government Act 1919 Real Property Act 1900 Roads Act 1993 Strata Schemes Development Act 2015 Supreme Court Act 1970 Cases Cited: Attorney General v The City Bank of Sydney (1920) 20 SR (NSW) 216 Bateman's Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council v Aboriginal Community Benefit Fund Pty Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 247 Bridges v Bridges [2010] NSWSC 1287 Cababe v Walton-on-Thames Urban District Council [1914] AC 102 Casson v Leichhardt Council [2011] NSWLEC 243 Cavric v Willoughby City Council [2015] NSWCA 182; (2015) 89 NSWLR 461 Newington v Windeyer (1985) 3 NSWLR 555 Onus v Alcoa of Australia Ltd (1981) 149 CLR 27 Owen v O'Connor (1963) SR (NSW) 1051 Owners Strata Plan No 43551 v Walter Construction Group Ltd (2004) 62 NSWLR 169 Owners-Strata Plan No 1731 v Bailey [2014] NSWSC 875 Permanent Trustee Company of New South Wales Limited v Council of the Municipality of Campbelltown (1960) 105 CLR 401 Re A Caveat by the Council of the Municipality of Botany; ex part Homelands Development Co Ltd (1936) 36 SR (NSW) 615 Street v Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd [2006] NSWSC 230 Owners of the Ship Shin Kobe Maru v Empire Shipping Company Inc (1994) 181 CLR 404 Weber v Ankin [2008] NSWSC 106 Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Owners – Strata Plan No 5225 – plaintiff Registrar-General of New South Wales – first defendant Diana Mary Heath – second defendant Woollahra Municipal Council – cross defendant Representation: Counsel: M Pesman SC – for the plaintiff I Jackman SC with M Bennett – for the second defendant