Twelve Walker Street Pty Ltd v Lee [2017] NSWSC 1807

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Twelve Walker Street Pty Ltd v Lee [2017] NSWSC 1807 Hearing dates: 9 November 2017 and 11 December 2017 Date of orders: 20 December 2017 Decision date: 20 December 2017 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Darke J Decision: Orders made for imposition of an easement for temporary rock anchors. Catchwords: LAND LAW – easements – creation of easements – creation by order of court – temporary easement for underground rock anchors – where plaintiffs propose deep excavation of dominant tenement – where easement will temporarily restrict development of servient tenement – whether easement reasonably necessary for effective use or development of plaintiffs' land – easement imposed

LAND LAW – easements – validity of easements – whether easement capable of forming subject matter of grant – temporary easement for underground rock anchors – whether easement amounts to a grant of exclusive possession – whether easement would deprive servient owners of proprietorship and possession – easement capable of forming subject matter of grant Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 88K Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 (NSW), s 62 Cases Cited: 117 York Street Pty Ltd v Proprietors of Strata Plan No 16123 (1998) 43 NSWLR 504 Bligh Consulting Pty Ltd v Ausgrid [2017] NSWCA 95 Clos Farming Estates Pty Ltd v Easton (2002) 11 BPR 20,605; [2002] NSWCA 389 Harada v Registrar of Titles [1981] VR 743 In Re Ellenborough Park [1956] Ch 131 Khattar v Wiese (2005) 12 BPR 23,235; [2005] NSWSC 1014 Mitchell v Boutagy (2001) 118 LGERA 249; [2001] NSWSC 1045 Moncrieff v Jamieson [2007] 1 WLR 2620; [2007] UKHL 42 Moorebank Recyclers Pty Ltd v Tanlane Pty Ltd (2012) 16 BPR 31,257; [2012] NSWCA 445 Pennant Hills Golf Club Ltd v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (1997) 96 LGERA 164 Pennant Hills Golf Club Ltd v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales (1999) 9 BPR 17,011; [1999] NSWCA 110 Registrar-General of New South Wales v Jea Holdings (Aust) Pty Ltd (2015) 88 NSWLR 321; [2015] NSWCA 74 Wengarin Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council (1999) 9 BPR 16,985; [1999] NSWSC 485 White v Betalli (2007) 71 NSWLR 381; [2007] NSWCA 243 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Twelve Walker Street Pty Ltd (First Plaintiff) Owners Corporation – Strata Plan No 37320 (Second Plaintiff) John Kwong Lee (First Defendant) Yuen Yee Lai (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Ashhurst SC with Mr G Farland (Plaintiffs) Mr A J McInerney SC with Mr G P Gee (Defendants)