Broughton v Leslie [2019] NSWSC 827

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Broughton v Leslie [2019] NSWSC 827 Hearing dates: 24, 25 and 26 June 2019 Decision date: 04 July 2019 Jurisdiction: Equity Before: Leeming JA Decision: Direct the parties to supply to my Associate within 21 days agreed short minutes of order, or in default of agreement, direct the plaintiffs to supply a short minute of the orders for which they contend, and short submissions in support of those orders, within 21 days, with the defendants to supply the orders for which they contend, and short submissions in support, 14 days thereafter, and the plaintiffs to supply any submissions in reply 14 days thereafter. The submissions are to indicate whether the parties seek a further oral hearing on the question of relief, and, if so, their basis for doing so. Catchwords: UNICORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS – association formed by deed to operate scheme for supply of stock and domestic water – dispute over members' entitlement to water – relevance of mistakes in deed – relevance of commercial purpose – relevance of underlying legal rights to take water from Macquarie River – relevance of post-contractual conduct

UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS – resignation of members – whether implied power to resign –whether inconsistent with express provisions in deed – whether inconsistent with purpose of deed Legislation Cited: Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW), s 26 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 140 Irrigation Act 1912 (NSW) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Water Act 1912 (NSW), ss 6, 7 Water Management Act 2000 (NSW), ss 71, 71A, 72, 72A, 73, 74, 367, 392, 393, schedule 10 Water Rights Act 1896 (NSW), ss 1, 2 Water Rights Act 1902 (NSW), ss 1, 2 Cases Cited: Administration of Papua & New Guinea v Daera Guba (1973) 130 CLR 353; [1973] HCA 59 Agricultural Societies Council of NSW Ltd v Christie [2016] NSWCA 331; (2016) 340 ALR 560 Barangaroo Delivery Authority v Lend Lease (Millers Point) Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 279 Cameron v Hogan (1934) 51 CLR 358; [1934] HCA 24 Carr v Western Australia (2007) 232 CLR 138; [2007] HCA 47 Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd [2009] 1 AC 1101; [2009] UKHL 38 Cherry v Steele-Park (2017) 96 NSWLR 548; [2017] NSWCA 295 Chief Commissioner of State Revenue v Adams Bidco Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 34 Committee of the Trangie Nevertire Irrigation Scheme v Smith [2013] NSWSC 128 Field v Battye [1939] SASR 235 Finch v Oake [1896] 1 Ch 409 H Jones & Co Pty Ltd v Kingborough Corporation (1950) 82 CLR 282; [1950] HCA 11 Hanson v Grassy Gully Gold Mining Co (1900) 21 LR (NSW) 271 ICM Agriculture Pty Ltd v The Commonwealth (2009) 240 CLR 140; [2009] HCA 51 International Air Transport Association v Ansett Australia Holdings Ltd (2008) 234 CLR 151; [2008] HCA 3 John Young & Co v Bankier Distillery Co [1893] AC 691 Martin v Martin [2010] NSWSC 700 Multi-Link Leisure Developments Ltd v North Lanarkshire Council [2010] UKSC 47; [2011] 1 All ER 475 Park v Murray Irrigation Ltd [2018] NSWCA 166 Redhead Grange Incorporated v Davidson (2002) 55 NSWLR 14; [2002] NSWSC 90 Rinehart v Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd [2019] HCA 13; (2019) 93 ALJR 582 Scandrett v Dowling (1992) 27 NSWLR 483 Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty Ltd v Ostwald Bros Pty Ltd (in liq) [2019] NSWCA 11; (2019) 365 ALR 345 Taouk v Assure (NSW) Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 227 University of Technology v Gerrard [2001] NSWSC 368 Van Son v Forestry Commission of New South Wales (1996) 86 LGERA 108 Wollongong Coal Ltd v Gujarat NRE India Pty Ltd [2019] NSWCA 135 Zhu v Treasurer of the State of New South Wales (2004) 218 CLR 530; [2004] HCA 56 Texts Cited: S Clark and J Renard, 'The Riparian Doctrine and Australian Legislation' (1970) 7 Melbourne University Law Review 475 J Getzler, A History of Water Rights at Common Law (Oxford University Press, 2004) Heydon on Contract (Lawbook Co 2019) J N Pomeroy, A Treatise on the Law of Water Rights (2nd ed West Publishing Co, 1893) P Tan, "An Historical Introduction to Water Reform in NSW – 1975 to 1994" (2002) 19 Environmental and Planning Law Journal 445 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gregory Paul Broughton (First Plaintiff) Kate Charlotte Broughton (Second Plaintiff) Rosalie Hazel Broughton (Third Plaintiff) Paul Broughton Investments Pty Ltd (Fourth Plaintiff) Rosalie Hazel Broughton, Gregory Paul Broughton and Kate Charlotte Broughton as trustees for the PR and GK Superannuation Fund (Fifth Plaintiff)