WAVERLEY COUNCIL v. LODGE [2001] NSWCA 439

Reported Decision : (2001) 117 LGERA 447

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : WAVERLEY COUNCIL v. LODGE [2001] NSWCA 439 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40180 of 2001 HEARING DATE(S) : 15/11/2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 November 2001

PARTIES : Council of the Municipality of Waverley - Appellant John James Lodge - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Heydon JA at 2; Bryson J at 3

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT DC 8758 of 1997 FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Judge Phegan and Judge Finnane Q.C. JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : P.R. Garling SC & S.P.W. Glascott - Appellant J.J. Graves SC & R.J. de Meyrick - Respondent SOLICITORS : Phillips Fox Solicitors - Appellant T.D. Kelly & Co. Solicitors - Respondent CATCHWORDS : NEGLIGENCE - Local council - control of beachside promenade, pools and steps - bather left rock pool and walked across rocks towards concrete steps - rocks not under control by Council but gave access to area under control - slipped and fell on marine growth on rock - scope of duty and whether breach of duty - findings of breach based on failure to erect warning sign were set aside - scope of duty did not extend to erecting warning sign. The Council of the Shire of Wyong v. Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 Phillis v. Daly (1988) 15 NSWLR 65 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v. Zaluzna (1987) 162 CLR 479 CASES CITED: Romeo v. Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (1988) 192 CLR 431 Department of Natural Resources and Energy v. Harper [2000] VSCA 36 Prast v. Town of Cottesloe [2000] WASCA 274 Nagle v. Rottnest Island Authority (1993) 177 CLR 423 DECISION : (1) Appeal allowed with costs.; (2) Verdicts and judgment of the District Court set aside and in lieu thereof give judgment for the defendant.; (3) Order that the plaintiff appellant pay the defendant respondent's costs of the proceedings in the District Court.