Gales Holdings Pty Limited v Tweed Shire Council [2011] NSWSC 1128

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Gales Holdings Pty Limited v Tweed Shire Council [2011] NSWSC 1128 Hearing dates: 15,17,and 21 February 2011; 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18 March 2011; 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 April 2011 (written subs 10 May 2011) Decision date: 21 September 2011 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Bergin CJ in Eq Decision: Nuisance established - plaintiff entitled to damages Catchwords: [NUISANCE] - stormwater runoff onto plaintiff's land - whether unreasonable interference with enjoyment of the land - land in undeveloped state - whether drainage inadequate and caused wetting up of the land causing harm with consequence of invasion of protected species of frogs

[STATUTORY DEFENCES] - whether Civil Liability Act 2002 applies - whether defendant acted in good faith - whether defendant's conduct justified or excused

[DAMAGES] - whether mandatory injunction or whether damages an adequate remedy Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Local Government Act 1993 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Roads Act 1993 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Cases Cited: Bamford v Turnley (1862) 3 B. & S. 66 Bankstown City Council v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd (2005) 223 CLR 660; [2005] HCA 46 Brodie v Singleton Shire Council (2001) 206 CLR 512; [2001] HCA 29 Buckle v Bayswater Road Board (1936) 57 CLR 259 Cattanach v Melchior (2003) 215 CLR 1; [2003] HCA 38 Don Brass Foundry Pty Ltd v Stead (1948) 48 SR (NSW) 482 Duke of Leeds v Earl of Amhurst (1846) 2 Ph 117 Gales Holdings Pty Ltd v Minister for Infrastructure and Planning and Anor [2005] NSWLEC 617 Gales Holdings Pty Ltd v Minister for Infrastructure and Planning [2006] NSWCA 388 Gales Holdings Pty Limited v Tweed Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 85 Gales Holdings Pty Limited v Tweed Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 212 Gales Holdings Pty Limited v Tweed Shire Council [2008] NSWLEC 209 Hargrave v Goldman (1963) 110 CLR 40 Hill v Van Erp (1997) 188 CLR 159 Leakey v National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty [1980] 1 QB 485 Melaleuca Estate Pty Ltd v Port Stephens Council (2006) 143 LGERA 319; [2006] NSWCA 31 Mid Density Developments Pty Limited v Rockdale Municipal Council (1993) 44 FCR 290 North Sydney Council v Roman (2007) 69 NSWLR 240; [2007] NSWCA 27 Orr v Ford (1989) 167 CLR 316 Overseas Tankship (UK) Limited v Miller Steamship Company Pty Ltd ("Wagon Mound (No 2)") [1967] 1 AC 617 Owners Strata Plan 4085 v Mallone (2006) 12 BPR 23,691; [2006] NSWSC 1381 Precision Products (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council (2008) 74 NSWLR 102; [2008] NSWCA 278 Pride of Derby and Derbyshire Angling Association Ltd v British Celanese Ltd [1953] 1 Ch 149 Quick v Alpine Nurseries Sales Pty Ltd [2010] NSWSC 1248 Roberts v Rodier (2006) 12 BPR 23,453; [2006] NSWSC 282 Robson v Leischke (2008) 72 NSWLR 98; [2008] NSWLEC 152 Sedleigh-Denfield v O'Callaghan [1940] AC 880 Southport Corporation v Esso Petroleum Co Ltd [1954] 2 QB 182 Sullivan v Moody (2001) 207 CLR 562; [2001] HCA 59 Sutherland Shire Council v Becker (2006) 150 LGERA 184; [2006] NSWCA 344 Sydney Water Corporation v Turano (2009) 239 CLR 51; [2009] HCA 42 Torette House Pty Ltd v Berkman (1940) 62 CLR 637 Victoria Park Racing and Recreation Grounds Co Ltd v Taylor (1937) 58 CLR 479 Walter v Selfe (1851) 4 De G. & Sm. 315 Willoughby Municipal Council v Halstead (1916) 22 CLR 352 Texts Cited: Clerk & Lindsell on Torts, 19th Ed. (Sweet & Maxwell, London) Dominic Villa Annotated Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) (2004, Law Book Co) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gales Holdings Pty Limited (Plaintiff) Tweed Shire Council (Defendant) Representation: TF Robertson SC/M Green (Plaintiff) SR Donaldson SC/S Glascott/N Broadbent (Defendant) Allens Arthur Robinson (Plaintiff) DLA Phillips Fox (now DLA Piper) (Defendant) File Number(s): 2005/261912