Port Stephens Shire Council v Booth & Ors; Port Stephens Shire Council v Gibson & Anor [2005] NSWCA 323

Reported Decision : (2005) Aust Torts Reports 81-807

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Port Stephens Shire Council v Booth & Ors; Port Stephens Shire Council v Gibson & Anor [2005] NSWCA 323

HEARING DATE(S): 16 June 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 27 September 2005

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; Giles JA at 2; Hunt AJA at 199

DECISION: (1) In 40517/04, grant leave to appeal and direct the filing of the notices of appeal within seven days; (2) In 40517/04 and 40821/04, appeals dismissed; (3) The claimant/appellant to pay the costs of the opponents/respondents.

CATCHWORDS: Negligence - council's approval of development and building applications - council's issue of s 149 certificates - land within zone of noise affectation in ANEF - purchasers of land from developer - discussion of duty of care owed by council to purchasers in relation to grant of approvals - whether council in breach of duty of care - whether in breach of duty of care in relation to issue of s 149 certificates - whether defence of good faith under s 149(6) made out - losses claimed included that paid more for land than true value - whether causation of loss established - whether later draft or proposed ANEF with less affectation meant no loss suffered - whether interest properly included in damages. D

Albert Shire Council v Bamford (1997) 97 LGERA 33; Alec Finlayson Pty Ltd v Armidale City Council (1994) 51 FCR 387; Armidale City Council v Alec Finlayson Pty Ltd (1999) 104 LGERA 9; Astonland Pty Ltd v HTW Valuers [2001] QSC 380; Bankstown City Council v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 46; Bryan v Maloney (1995) 182 CLR 609; Caledonian Colleries Ltd v Speirs (1957) 97 CLR 202; Central Coast Leagues Club v Gosford City Council (Giles J, 9 June 1998, unreported); City of Botany Bay Council v Jazabas Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 94; Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee (1999) 2000 CLR 1; Curran v Greater Taree City Council (1992) Aust Torts Rep 81-152; Degman Pty Ltd (in liq) v Wright (1983) 2 NSWLR 384; Forbes Shire Council v Pace [2002] NSWSC 966; Hill v Van Erp (1997) 188 CLR 159; House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; CASES CITED: HTW Valuers (Central Qld) Pty Ltd v Astonland Pty Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 640; Jazabas v Botany Council [2000] NSWSC 58; Kizbeau Pty Ltd v W G & B Pty Ltd (1995) 184 CLR 281; Lamont v Wyong Shire Council (Palmer AJ, 13 December 1991, unreported); Melaleuca Estate Pty Ltd v Port Stephens Shire Council [2004] NSWSC 415; Mid Density Developments Pty Ltd v Rockdale Municipal Council (1993) 44 FCR 290; Murphy v Overton Investments Ltd (2004) 216 CLR 388; Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180; Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330; Smith v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2005] NSWCA 29; Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1985) 157 CLR 424; Voli v Inglewood Shire Council (1963) 110 CLR 74; Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514; Wollongong City Council v Fregnan (1982) 1 NSWLR 244; Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd (2004) 216 CLR 515.