Dansar Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 364

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Dansar Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council [2014] NSWCA 364 Hearing dates: 18 and 19 March 2014 Decision date: 27 October 2014 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Meagher JA at [99]; Leeming JA at [184] 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 - pure economic loss - respondent Council was consent authority in relation to development application and authority having care and management of sewerage works - appellant sought allocation of sewerage capacity for purpose of obtaining consent to development application - whether Council owed duty of care when implementing earlier decision as to allocation of spare sewerage capacity - whether existence of asserted duty compatible with Council's statutory functions and obligations - whether other features of relationship between parties justified subjecting Council to duty of care - relevance of distinction between policy and operational decisions Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 43, 43A, 44 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), ss 76A, 78A, 79C, 80, 82, 97 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), s 39 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), ss 8, 22, 24, 58, 61, 68, 89, 176, 179 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), s 91 Cases Cited: Armidale City Council v Alec Finlayson Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 330; 104 LGERA 9 Avenhouse v Hornsby Shire Council (1998) 44 NSWLR 1 Barrick Australia Ltd v Williams [2009] NSWCA 275; 74 NSWLR 733 CAL No 14 Pty Ltd v Motor Accidents Insurance Board [2009] HCA 47; 239 CLR 390 Caledonian Collieries Ltd v Speirs [1957] HCA 14; 97 CLR 202 Caltex Oil (Australia) Pty Ltd v The Dredge "Willemstad" [1976] HCA 65; 136 CLR 529 Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Stavar [2009] NSWCA 258; 75 NSWLR 649 Codlea Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council [1999] NSWCA 399; 105 LGERA 370 Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee [1999] HCA 59; 200 CLR 1 Eberstaller v Poulos [2014] NSWCA 211 Federated Engine-Drivers' and Firemen's Association of Australasia v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd [1911] HCA 31; 12 CLR 398 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; 211 CLR 540 Hazeldell Ltd v Commonwealth [1924] HCA 36; 34 CLR 442 Hill v Van Erp [1997] HCA 9; 188 CLR 159 Johnson Tiles Pty Ltd v Esso Australia Pty Ltd [2003] VSC 27; ATR 81-692 L Shaddock & Associates Pty Ltd v Parramatta City Council (No 1) [1981] HCA 59; 150 CLR 225 Makawe Pty Ltd v Randwick City Council [2009] NSWCA 412; 171 LGERA 165 McGovern v Ku-ring-gai Council [2008] NSWCA 209; 72 NSWLR 504 MM Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Port Stephens Council (No 7) [2012] NSWCA 417; 191 LGERA 292 Moorabool Shire Council v Taitapanui [2006] VSCA 30; 14 VR 55 Mutual Life & Citizens' Assurance Co Ltd v Evatt [1968] HCA 74; 122 CLR 556 Newcastle City Council v Shortland Management Services [2003] NSWCA 156; 57 NSWLR 173 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd [1999] HCA 36; 198 CLR 180 Precision Products (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council [2008] NSWCA 278; 74 NSWLR 102 Pyrenees Shire Council v Day [1998] HCA 3; 192 CLR 330 R v Connell; ex parte Hetton Bellbird Collieries Ltd [1944] HCA 42; 69 CLR 407 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 Tepko Pty Ltd v Water Board [2001] HCA 19; 206 CLR 1 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; 223 CLR 422 Western Districts Developments Pty Ltd v Baulkham Hills Shire Council [2009] NSWCA 283; 75 NSWLR 706 Woolcock Street Investments Pty Ltd v CDG Pty Ltd [2004] HCA 16; 216 CLR 515 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dansar Pty Ltd (Appellant) Byron Shire Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: AJL Bannon SC/A Bouris (Appellant) PW Taylor SC (Respondent)