Mansfield v Great Lakes Council [2016] NSWCA 204

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Mansfield v Great Lakes Council [2016] NSWCA 204 Hearing dates: 17 June 2016 Decision date: 11 August 2016 Before: Beazley P at [1]; Basten JA at [2]; Leeming JA at [63] Decision: (1) Dismiss the appeal against the judgment of the District Court given on 6 February 2015.

(2) Order that the appellant pay the respondent's costs in this Court.

(3) Dismiss the cross-appeal. Catchwords: TORTS – negligence – motor vehicle accident – public or other authorities – whether failure to exercise a special statutory power – whether failure to carry out roadwork manifestly unreasonable – whether authority ignorant of risk which materialised – whether ignorance itself manifestly unreasonable – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 43A

TORTS – negligence – roads authorities – non-feasance – whether council immune from liability in failing to carry out roadwork – whether relevant officers had "actual knowledge" of risk which materialised – Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), s 45

TORTS – negligence – causation – absence of road signage – sign indicating narrowness of culvert – sign warning of weight limitations – whether signs would have prevented accident Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW), ss 5B, 40, 43A, 45 Roads Act 1993 (NSW), s 71 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 (NSW), s 50 Transport Administration Act 1988 (NSW), Pt 6 Cases Cited: Curtis v Harden Shire Council (2014) 88 NSWLR 10 Gorringe v Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council [2004] 1 WLR 1057 Nightingale v Blacktown City Council [2015] NSWCA 423 North Sydney Council v Roman (2007) 69 NSWLR 240; [2007] NSWCA 27 Pyrenees Shire Council v Day (1998) 192 CLR 330; [1998] HCA 3 Stovin v Wise [1996] AC 923 Category: Principal judgment Parties: John Douglas Mansfield (Appellant/Cross-Respondent) Great Lakes Council (Respondent/Cross-Appellant) Representation: Counsel: Mr P Beale/Ms E Arulrajah (Appellant/Cross-Respondent) Mr J Turnbull SC/Ms S Warren (Respondent/Cross-Appellant)