VAIRY v WYONG SHIRE COUNCIL [2002] NSWSC 881

Reported Decision : (2002) 129 LGERA 10

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : VAIRY v WYONG SHIRE COUNCIL [2002] NSWSC 881 FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 13576/93 HEARING DATE(S) : 9/9/02, 10/9/02, 11/9/02, 12/9/02, 13/9/02, 16/9/02, 17/9/02, 18/9/02, 19/9/02, 23/9/02, 24/9/02, 26/9/02 JUDGMENT DATE : 20 December 2002

PARTIES : Ernest Vairy (Plaintiff) Wyong Shire Council (Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Bell J at 1

COUNSEL : P. C. B. Semmler QC / L.T. Grey (Plaintiff) I.G. Harrison SC / D. F. Villa (Defendant) SOLICITORS : Carroll & O'Dea (Plaintiff) Minter Ellison (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : Negligence - public authority - diving from rock platform in public reserve - breach of duty - obviousness of danger Crown Lands Act 1989 Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1965 LEGISLATION CITED : Local Government Act 1919 Local Government Act 1993 Public Trusts Act 1897 Stevedoring Industry Act 1956 (Cth) Aiken v Kingborough Corporation (1939) 62 CLR 179 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council [2001] HCA 29; 206 CLR 512 Buttita v Strathfield Municipal Council [2001] NSWCA, 365 Caparo Industries Plc v Dickman [1990] 2 AC 605 Chappel v Hart (1998) 195 CLR 232 City of Rockingham v Curley [2000] WASCA 202; 112 LGERA 123 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee [1999] HCA 59; 200 CLR 1 Department of Natural Resources and Energy v Harper [2000] VSCA 36 Franklins Selfserve Pty Ltd v Bozinovska (unreported), NSWCA, 14 October 1998 Inverell Municipal Council v Pennington (1993) Aust Torts Rep 81-234 Hornberg v Horrobin [1998] QCA 283 Manly Municipal Council v Boylan (unreported) NSWCA, 26 April 1995 CASES CITED : The Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria Inc v Barron [1997] Aust Torts Rep 81-426 Nagle v Rottnest Island Authority (1989) Aust Torts Reports 80-298 Nagle v Rottnest Island Authority (1993) 177 CLR 423 Podrebersek v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd (1985) 59 ALR 492 Prast v Town of Cottesloe [2000] WASCA 274; 22 WAR 474 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory [1998] HCA 5; (1998) 192 CLR 431; Saroukas v Sutherland Shire Council (1992) Aust Torts Rep 81-149 Scarf v State of Queensland [1998] QSC 233 Tame v State of New South Wales [2002] HCA 35; 76 ALJR 1348 Van Der Sluice v Display Craft Pty Ltd [2002] NSWCA 204 Waverly Council v Lodge [2001] NSWCA 439; (2001) 117 LGERA 447; Western Australia v Dale (1996) 15 WAR 464 Woods v Multi-Sport Holdings Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 9; 76 ALJR 483 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt (1980) 146 CLR 40 DECISION : Verdict and judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $ 5,054,753.25; The defendant to pay the plaintiff's costs as agreed or assessed