Streller v Albury City Council [2013] NSWCA 348

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Streller v Albury City Council [2013] NSWCA 348 Hearing dates: 2 July 2013 Decision date: 23 October 2013 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Ward JA at [70]; Emmett JA at [71] 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 - public authority - appellant suffered spinal injury jumping into river using rope swing - accident occurred on Australia Day near events organised by Council - Council aware of presence of rope - whether Council breached duty of care in failing to remove rope or to prevent use of it

TORTS - negligence - personal injury - whether risk of harm that materialised an "obvious risk" within Civil Liability Act 2002, s 5F(1) - whether appellant engaged in a "dangerous recreational activity" within s 5K - whether Council not liable by reason of s 5L(1) Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002, ss 5, 5B, 5C, 5F, 5H, 5K, 5L Cases Cited: Bathurst Regional Council as trustee for the Bathurst City Council Crown Reserve Trust v Thompson [2012] NSWCA 340 Berrigan Shire Council v Ballerini [2005] VSCA 159 Chartbrook Ltd v Persimmon Homes Ltd [2009] 1 AC 1101 Delaney v Staples [1992] 1 AC 687 Doubleday v Kelly [2005] NSWCA 151 Fallas v Mourlas [2006] NSWCA 32; 65 NSWLR 418 Falvo v Australian Oztag Sports Association [2006] NSWCA 17 Hastings Co-Operative Ltd v Port Macquarie Hastings Council [2009] NSWCA 400; 171 LGERA 152 Jaber v Rockdale City Council [2008] NSWCA 98; (2008) Aust Tort Reports 81-952 Laoulach v Ibrahim [2011] NSWCA 402 Lormine Pty Ltd v Xuereb [2006] NSWCA 200 Manly Council v Malouf t/as Fusion Point [2004] NSWCA 299; 61 NSWLR 394 Nagle v Rottnest Island Authority [1993] HCA 76; 177 CLR 423 Rennie Golledge Pty Ltd v Ballard [2012] NSWCA 376; 82 NSWLR 231 Romeo v Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory [1998] HCA 5; 192 CLR 431 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dylan Streller (Appellant) Albury City Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A J Bartley SC, F Tuscano (Appellant) J E Sexton SC, G Donnellan (Respondent) Solicitors: Santone Lawyers (Appellant) DLA Piper (Respondent) File Number(s): 2012/196554 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9111 Citation: Streller v Albury City Council [2012] NSWSC 729 Date of Decision: 2012-05-28 00:00:00 Before: Latham J File Number(s): 2010/346079