Collins v Clarence Valley Council (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1682

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Collins v Clarence Valley Council (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1682 Hearing dates: 17 to 21, 24 and 28 June 2013 Decision date: 15 November 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Beech-Jones J Decision: (1) Judgment for defendant. (2) Proceedings be dismissed. Catchwords: NEGLIGENCE - cyclist fell from timber bridge and was injured when wheel of bicycle became stuck in gap between planks - duty of care - relevance of funding constraints - Civil Liability Act 2002, s 42 - whether duty to warn owed - whether risk obvious - Civil Liability Act, ss 5F, G & H

NEGLIGENCE - liability - whether organised long distance charity ride a dangerous recreational activity - Civil Liability Act, s 5L - immunity of roads authorities under Civil Liability Act, s 45 - whether installation of sign constitutes "road work" - whether roads authority had actual knowledge of particular risk - exercise of special statutory power - Civil Liability Act, s 43A

NEGLIGENCE - breach of duty - resurfacing bridge - replacing bridge deck - replacing individual planks - guardrails or fencing - erecting warning sign - negligent inspection - whether exercise of reasonable care would have required defect to have been acted upon - funding constraints - Civil Liability Act, ss 5B, 5C & 42. Legislation Cited: - Civil Liability Act 2002 - Local Government Act 1993 - Roads Act 1993 - Transport Administration Act 1988 Cases Cited: - AC Billings & Sons v Riden [1958] AC 240 - Action Paintball Games Pty Ltd (In liquidation) v Barker [2013] NSWCA 128 - Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales; Kelly v Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 328 - Associated Provincial Picture Houses Ltd v Wednesbury Corporation [1948] 1 KB 223 - Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) v Hellicar [2012] HCA 17; 247 CLR 345 - Bellingen Shire Council v Colavon Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 34 - Benic v State of New South Wales [2010] NSWSC 1039 - Blacktown City Council v Hocking [2008] NSWCA 144 - Botany Bay City Council v Latham [2013] NSWCA 363 - Brodie v Singleton Shire Council [2001] HCA 29; 206 CLR 512 - Buckle v Bayswater Road Board (1936) 57 CLR 259 - Colavon Pty Ltd t/a Thormans Transport v Bellingen Shire Council [2008] NSWCA 355 - Collins v Clarence Valley Council (No 2) [2013] NSWCS 816 - Council of the City of Greater Taree v Wells [2010] NSWCA 147 - Council of the City of Liverpool v Turano [2008] NSWCA 270 - Fallas v Mourlas [2006] NSWCA 32; 65 NSWLR 418 - Falvo v Australian Oztag Sports Association [2006] NSWCA 17 - Garzo v Liverpool/Campbelltown Christian School [2012] NSWCA 151 - Gorringe v The Transport Commission (Tas) (1950) 80 CLR 357 - Jaber v Rockdale City Council [2008] NSWCA 98 - Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 - Kempsey Shire Council v Baguley [2010] NSWCA 284 - Laoulach v Ibrahim [2011] NSWCA 402 - Leichhardt Municipal Council v Montgomery [2007] HCA 6; 230 CLR 22 - Leichhardt Council v Serratore [2005] NSWCA 406 - Lormine Pty Ltd v Xuereb [2006] NSWCA 200 - North Sydney Council v Roman [2007] NSWCA 27; 69 NSWLR 240 - Paul v Cooke [2013] NSWCA 311 - Rickard v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2009] NSWSC 1115 - Roads and Traffic Authority v McGregor [2005] NSWCA 388 - Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW v Dederer [2007] HCA 42; 234 CLR 330 - Roads and Traffic Authority of New South Wales v Refrigerated Roadways Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 263; 77 NSWLR 360 - Shaw v Thomas [2010] NSWCA 169 - Streller v Albury City Council [2013] NSWCA 348 - Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman (1989) 157 CLR 424 - Sydney Water Corporation v Turano [2009] HCA 42; 239 CLR 51 - Turner v Australian Associated Motor Insurers Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1292 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dr Ann Page Collins - Plaintiff Clarence Valley Council - Defendant Representation: Counsel: C.T. Barry QC, M.P. Tanevski (Plaintiff) R.S. Sheldon SC, B.R. Wilson (Defendant) Solicitors: Johnston Vaughan (Plaintiff) DLA Piper (Defendant) File Number(s): 2010/326308