Cavric v Willoughby City Council [2015] NSWCA 182

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Cavric v Willoughby City Council [2015] NSWCA 182 Hearing dates: 2 June 2015 Decision date: 03 July 2015 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Meagher JA at [36]; Emmett JA at [50] Decision: (1) Allow the appeal and set aside the judgment in favour of the defendant given in the District Court on 7 May 2014.

(2) Give judgment for the plaintiff against the defendant in the amount of $285, 915.00, the judgment to take effect from 7 May 2014.

(3) Order that the defendant pay the plaintiff's costs of the trial.

(4) Order that the respondent pay the appellant's costs of the appeal. Catchwords: HIGHWAYS – car park used to pass from one street to another – whether car park a "public road" – whether owner council a "roads authority" – legislative history in relation to opening public roads in NSW area not a road under the common law – whether user sufficient basis to establish existence of public road under statute – whether the Roads Act 1993 (NSW), s 249 a separate test of what is a public road or evidentiary provision only – effect of the Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), 178 – Stojan (No 9) Pty Ltd v Kenway [2009] NSWCA 364 not followed NEGLIGENCE – customer injured in car park of shopping centre – whether council as owner of car park a "roads authority" protected from liability under the Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 45 REAL PROPERTY – Torrens title – indefeasibility of title – dispute whether car park a public road where certificate of title not relied on – inference that no disclosure of public road on the certificate of title – Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 46B STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – whether case law on the meaning of "public street" in the Motor Traffic Act 1989 (NSW) and "road" in the Traffic Act 1919 (WA) relevant to interpretation of "public road" under the Roads Act 1993 (NSW), s 249 WORDS AND PHRASES – "roads authority" – "public road" Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 45 Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), ss 88, 178 Crown and Other Roads Act 1990 (NSW), ss 4, 11, Pt 2 Crown Lands Consolidation Act 1913 (NSW), s 24 Local Government Act 1906 (NSW), ss 78, 99-101, 194 Local Government Act 1919 (NSW), ss 232, 237, 249, 323, 327, 329, 518, 526, 623, 703; Pt IX Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), ss 44, 701; Sch 7, cl 6 Public Roads Act 1902 (NSW), s 18 Public Works Act 1912 (NSW), s 81 Real Property (Amendment) Act 1921 (NSW), s 14 Real Property (Amendment) Act 1970 (NSW), s 22 Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), ss 42, 46B Roads Act 1993 (NSW), ss 7, 10, 249; Pt 2; Sch 2, cl 15; Dictionary Cases Cited: Ashfield Municipal Council v Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW [2001] NSWCA 370; 117 LGERA 203 Attorney General v The City Bank of Sydney (1920) 20 SR (NSW) 216 Bathurst City Council v PWC Properties Pty Ltd [1998] HCA 59; 195 CLR 566 Blakeney v Mosman Municipal Council (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 100 Blakeney v Mosman Municipal Council (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 100 Boyton v Nominal Defendant [1980] 2 NSWLR 509 City of Canada Bay Council v Bonaccorso Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 351; 71 NSWLR 424 Folkestone Corporation v Brockman [1914] AC 338 Goodtitle v Alker (1757) 1 Burr 133; 97 ER 231 Greenwich Board of Works v Maudslay (1870) LR 5 QB 397 Harrison v Duke of Rutland [1893] 1 QB 142 In re A Caveat by the Council of the Municipality of Botany; Ex Parte Homelands Development Co Ltd (1936) 36 SR (NSW) 615 Lake Macquarie City Council v Luka [1999] NSWCA 447; 106 LGERA 94 Mann v Brodie (1885) 10 App Cas 378 Newington v Windeyer (1985) 3 NSWLR 555 Permanent Trustee Company of New South Wales Limited v Council of the Municipality of Campbelltown [1960] HCA 62; 105 CLR 401 Roberts v Gilgandra Shire Council [2008] NSWSC 1244; 15 PBR 28,295 Schubert v Lee (1946) 71 CLR 589 South-Eastern Drainage Board (South Australia) v Savings Bank of South Australia (1939) 62 CLR 603 Stojan (No 9) Pty Ltd v Kenway [2009] NSWCA 364; [2009] Aust Torts Rep 82-043 Turner v Walsh (1881) 6 App Cas 636 Vickery v Strathfield Municipal Council (1911) 11 SR (NSW) 354 Williams v State Transit Authority of NSW [2004] NSWCA 179 Texts Cited: Harold Parrish and Lord de Mauley, Pratt and Mackenzie's Law of Highways (21st ed 1967, Shaw & Sons)