MM Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Port Stephens Council [2012] NSWCA 417

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: MM Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Port Stephens Council [2012] NSWCA 417 Hearing dates: 20 and 21 September 2012 Decision date: 19 December 2012 Before: Allsop P at [1]; Basten JA at [203]; Bergin CJ in Eq at [229] Decision: Appeal dismissed with costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: TORTS - negligence - duty of care - economic loss - local government - processing and assessment of development application - no relevant reliance or assumption of responsibility - no vulnerability - posited duty not conformable with statutory scheme - lack of coherence with administrative law - no duty to avoid foreseeable economic loss

TORTS - misfeasance in public office - local government officer - processing and assessment of development application - credit findings by primary judge - no failure by primary judge adequately to explain credit findings Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 43A Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), s 5, s 79C, s 82, s 96, s 97 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) Real Property Act 1900 (NSW) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 69 Cases Cited: Caledonian Collieries Ltd v Spiers [1957] HCA 14; 97 CLR 202 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee [1999] HCA 59; 200 CLR 1 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; 214 CLR 118 Giannarelli v Wraith [1988] HCA 52; 165 CLR 543 Goodrich Aerospace Pty Limited v Arsic [2006] NSWCA 187; 66 NSWLR 186 Goose v Wilson Sandford & Co [1998] EWCA (Civ) 245 Kuru v New South Wales [2008] HCA 26; 236 CLR 1 L Shaddock & Associates Pty Ltd v Council of the City of Parramatta (No 1) [1981] HCA 59; 150 CLR 225 Mabo v Queensland [1988] HCA 69; 166 CLR 186 McGlen-McLeod v Galloway [2012] NSWCA 368 McGovern v Ku-Ring-Gai Council [2008] NSWCA 209; 72 NSWLR 504 Mitchell v Cullingral Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 389 MM Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Port Stephens Council (No 6) [2011] NSWSC 1613 Modbury Triangle Shopping Centre Pty Ltd v Anzil [2000] HCA 61; 205 CLR 254 Monie v Commonwealth of Australia [2005] NSWCA 25; 63 NSWLR 729 NAIS v Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs [2005] HCA 77; 228 CLR 470 New South Wales v Paige [2002] NSWCA 235; 60 NSWLR 371 Northern Territory v Mengel [1995] HCA 65; 185 CLR 307 Precision Products (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council [2008] NSWCA 278; 74 NSWLR 102 Stuart v Kirkland-Veenstra [2009] HCA 15; 237 CLR 215 Sullivan v Moody [2001] HCA 59; 207 CLR 562 Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman [1985] HCA 41; 157 CLR 424 Tame v New South Wales [2002] HCA 35; 211 CLR 317 Tepko Pty Ltd v Water Board [2001] HCA 19; 206 CLR 1 Twynam Agricultural Group Pty Ltd v Williams [2012] NSWCA 326 Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 16; 216 CLR 515 Category: Principal judgment Parties: MM Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd (First Appellant) Milan Maruncic (Second Appellant) Port Stephens Council (Respondent) Representation: B M J Toomey QC and E G Romaniuk (Appellants) M J Joseph SC and S Glascott (Respondent) Creagh and Creagh (Appellants) DLA Phillips Fox (Respondent) File Number(s): 2012/19108 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: [2011] NSWSC 1613 Date of Decision: 2011-12-22 00:00:00 Before: Johnson J File Number(s): 2008/289298