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NSW Crest

Supreme Court
New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:
Warragamba Winery Pty Ltd v State of New South Wales (No 9) [2012] NSWSC 701
Hearing dates:
24-28, 31 October, 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-30 November 5-8, 12-16 December 2011, 30, 31 January, 1-3, 6-10, 13-17, 20-22, 27-29 February, 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 16, 19, 20-23, 26-30 March, 2-5, 10-13 April, 21-24 May 2012
Decision date:
26 June 2012
Jurisdiction:
Common Law
Before:
Walmsley AJ
Decision:

1. Judgment in favour of the defendants in all matters.

2. Order the plaintiffs in each case to pay the defendants' costs.

3. Direct the Principal Registrar to refer the judgment as it concerns Mr Nix to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Catchwords:
Torts - negligence - public authorities - bushfire caused by lightning strike spreading to and burning houses and factories in towns near national park - whether a duty of care - occupiers duties - whether breach of duty - nuisance - whether breach of statutory duty - Civil Liability Act 2002, s 43A - Rural Fires Act 1997, s 128 - whether immunity available - Jones v Dunkel - unexplained failure to call witnesses - experts - bias allegation - assumptions - whether expert ought go beyond them - damages - method of valuation for tortiously destroyed buildings - emergency grants - whether defendants should benefit - real property - whether demountable home has become part of the land
Legislation Cited:
Civil Liability Act 2002
Crown Proceedings Act 1988
Community Welfare Act 1987
Evidence Act 1995
Fire Brigades Act 1989
Local Government Act 2007
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974
Public Sector Management Act 1988
Rural Fires Act 1997
Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998
Cases Cited:
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW; Kelly v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW [2010] NSWCA 328
Anthoness v Bland Shire Council (1960) 60 SR (NSW) 659
Australian National Airlines Commission v Newman [1987] HCA 9; (1987) 162 CLR 466
Australian Softwood Forests Pty Ltd v Attorney-General (NSW); Ex rel CAC (1981) 148 CLR 121
Bankstown City Council v Alamdo Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 46; (2005) 223 CLR 660
Bennett & Wood Ltd v Orange City Council (1967) 67 SR (NSW) 426
Billing v Pill [1953] 3 WLR 758
Board of Fire Commissioners (NSW) v Ardouin (1961) 109 CLR 105
Board of Fire Commissioners v Rowland (1960) 60 SR (NSW) 322
Boatswain v Crawford [1943] NZLR 109
Bourne v Australian Oil Refining Pty Limited (Unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Court of Appeal, Hutley, Mahoney, Reynolds JJ, 2 July 1979)
Brodie v Singleton Shire Council; Ghantous v Hawkesbury Shire Council [2001] HCA 29; (2001) 206 CLR 512
Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67
Burnie Port Authority v General Jones Pty Ltd [1994] HCA 13; (1994) 179 CLR 520
Caltex Refineries (Qld) Pty Ltd v Stavar [2009] NSWCA 258; (2009) 259 ALR 616
Capital & Counties Plc; Digital Equipment Co Ltd v Hampshire County Council [1997] QB 1004
Crimmins v Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee [1999] HCA 59; (1999) 200 CLR 1
Dilosa v Latec Finance Pty Ltd [1966] 1 NSWR 259
Dodd Properties Ltd v Canterbury City Council [1980] 1 WLR 433
Edwards v Blue Mountains City Council [1961] NSWR 803
Elitestone Ltd v Morris [1997] 1 WLR 687
Elliot v Ivey (Unreported, New South Wales Supreme Court, Sperling J, 23 April 1998)
Evans v Balog [1976] 1 NSWLR 36
Fabre v Arenales (1992) 27 NSWLR 437
Gagner Pty Ltd t/as Indochine Cafe v Canturi Corp Pty Ltd [2009] NSWCA 413; (2009) 262 ALR 691
Gardner v Northern Territory of Australia [2004] NTCA 14
Gill v Australian Wheat Board [1980] 2 NSWLR 795
Gillett v Murphy [2001] NSWCA 199
Goldman v Hargrave [1967] 1 AC 645
Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54; (2002) 211 CLR 540
Harbutt's Plasticine Ltd v Wayne Tank & Pump Co Ltd [1970] 1 QB 447
Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298
Kent v Griffiths [2001] QB 36
Little v The Commonwealth (1947) 75 CLR 94
Manly Council v Byrne [2004] NSWCA 123
Maynard v Rover Mowers Ltd [2000] QCA 26
Mid Density Developments Pty Ltd v Rockdale Municipal Council (1993) 44 FCR 290
Murphy v Brentwood District Council [1990] 2 All ER 269
National Justice Compania Naviera SA v Prudential Assurance Co Ltd (The Ikarian Reefer) [1993] 2 Lloyd's Rep 68
Oceanview Holdings Ltd v Clarry M O'Byrne Ltd [1989] 1 NZLR 574
O'Connor v SP Bray Ltd (1937) 56 CLR 464
Parramatta City Council v Lutz (1988) 12 NSWLR 293
Parry v Cleaver [1970] AC 1
Payne v Parker [1976] 1 NSWLR 191
Precision Products (NSW) Pty Ltd v Hawkesbury City Council [2008] NSWCA 278; (2008) 74 NSWLR 102
Puntoriero v Water Administration Ministerial Corp [1999] HCA 45; (1999) 199 CLR 575
Pyrenees Shire Council v Day [1998] HCA 3; (1998) 192 CLR 330
The Queen in right of Ontario v Eliopoulous (2006) 276 DLR (4th) 411; (2006) 288 DLR (4th) 411
Re Cosslett (Contractors) Ltd [1998] Ch 495
Rickard v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2009] NSWSC 1115
R & W Vincent Pty Ltd v Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales [1977] 1 NSWLR 15
Sheridan v Borgmeyer [2006] NSWCA 201
Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd v Lindley [2010] NSWCA 357
Standard Portland Cement Co Pty Ltd v Good [1982] 2 NSWLR 668
State of New South Wales v West [2008] ACTCA 14; (2008) 165 ACTR 47
Stephens v Stephens [1970] 3 NSWR 168
Stuart v Kirkland-Veenstra [2009] HCA 15; (2009) 237 CLR 215
Sullivan v Moody; Thompson v Connon [2001] HCA 59; (2001) 207 CLR 562
Sutherland Shire Council v Heyman [1985] HCA 41; (1985) 157 CLR 424
Warren Shire Council v Kuehne [2012] NSWCA 81
Westwood v Cordell [1983] 1 Qd R 276
Whitehouse v Jordan [1981] 1 All ER 267
Williams v The Queen in right of Ontario (2009) 310 DLR (4th) 710; (2009) CanLII 71462 (SCC)
Wood v The Queen [2012] NSWCCA 21
X and Y v Pal (1991) 23 NSWLR 26
Texts Cited:
Cherie Booth QC, Dan Squires, The Negligence Liability of Public Authorities (2006) Oxford University Press
Peter Butt, Land Law, 6th ed (2009), Lawbook Co
Michael Eburn, Emergency Law, 2nd ed (2005) Federation Press
Harold Luntz, Assessment of Damages for Personal Injury and Death, 4th ed (2002), LexisNexis Butterworths
Halsbury's Laws of Australia, Loose-leaf Service (1991), LexisNexis
Harvey McGregor, McGregor on Damages 18th ed (2010) Sweet and Maxwell
Online Oxford English Dictionary
Pearce and Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 7th ed (2011), Lexis Asia Pacific
Carolyn Sappideen, Prue Vines, Fleming's The Law of Torts, 10th ed (2011) Lawbook Co
Pam Stewart, Anita Stuhmcke, Australian Principles of Tort Law, 3rd ed (2012), Federation press
Category:
Principal judgment
Parties:
Warragamba Winery Pty Ltd (Plaintiff)
Lionel Rupert Fowler (Plaintiff)
Joseph David and Jodie Ann Gauci (Plaintiffs)
Ernest and Gillian Hausler (Plaintiffs)
Vitomir Kuzmanovic (Plaintiff)
Michelle and Mark Larden (Plaintiffs)
Bruno Lopreiato (Plaintiff)
Alexander and Suzanne Lynch (Plaintiffs)
Darryl and Tracy Nix (Plaintiffs)
Michael O'Brien (Plaintiff)
Michael and Jane Passlow (Plaintiffs)
Antol and Wanda Plachozki (Plaintiffs)
Paul and Josephine Mary Quigley (Plaintiffs)
Richard and Joanne Sheppard (Plaintiffs)
Russell and Joanne Sheppard (Plaintiffs)
State of New South Wales (First defendant)
Sydney Catchment Authority (Second defendant)
Representation:
D Nock SC with K Odgers, J A Rose (from 5 December) (Plaintiffs)
L King SC with S Gregory, C A Webster, N Newton (Defendants)
McLachlan Chilton (Plaintiffs)
GILD (Defendants)
File Number(s):
2005/00269559 and Others

 

NOTE: This decision contains over 1900 paragraphs and 34 images. Because of it's size the decision has been published in five parts via PDF documents. To view and print you will need to select the hyperlinks to each part provided in the index below.

INDEX

PARAGRAPH

PART I: Introduction and factual narrative to midnight on 24 December 2001

[1]-[382]

1.

Introduction

[1]

2.

National Parks and Wildlife Act

[13]

3.

Rural Fires Act 1997

[18]

4.

Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998

[36]

5.

The case opened

[40]

6.

The case against the NPWS and the RFS

[42]

7.

The case against the SCA

[47]

8.

The case opened by the defendants

[52]

9.

Issues to be decided

[53]

10.

Factual background

[56]

11.

RFS and the Media

[107]

12.

24 December 2001

[126]

13.

First sighting of the fire

[126]

14.

First request for aircraft

[145]

15.

Surveillance flight over fire: judged too dangerous for ground crews

[198]

16.

The first attack on the fire

[273]

17.

S44 declaration for Blue Mountains RFS District

[293]

18.

The 11 pm Incident Action Plan on 24 December

[375]

PART II: Factual narrative for 25 December 2001 and resolution of legal issues on liability

[383]-[785]

19.

25 December 2001

[383]

20.

The fire spots across Warragamba Dam

[528]

21.

s 44 declaration for the Wollondilly RFS District

[567]

22.

The fire reaches Warragamba

[571]

23.

The plaintiffs: where they were on 25 December 2001

[587]

24.

Causes of action pleaded

[667]

25.

Negligence

[667]

26.

Nuisance

[673]

27.

Breaches of statutory duty

[675]

28.

Duty of care

[678]

29.

Conclusion: no duty of care was owed

[734]

30.

Conclusions on breaches of statutory duty case: no causes of action arose

[743]

31.

S 128 Rural Fires Act defence

[744]

32.

Onus

[747]

33.

Good faith

[750]

34.

Conclusion: s 128 RFA would have provided complete defence to RFS and NPWS

[771]

35.

S 43A Civil Liability Act

[772]

36.

Conclusion: s 43A would have applied

[784]

37.

The merits of the case

[786]

PART III: Arguments and resolution of issues on first alternative case

[786]-[1113]

38.

Experts on liability

[786]

39.

A bias allegation

[787]

40.

Mr Roche: expert for the plaintiffs

[825]

41.

Mr Roche's credit

[848]

42.

Mr Roche's opinion

[837]

43.

Mr Smith: expert for the defendants

[873]

44.

Mr Smith's credit

[874]

45.

Mr Smith's opinion

[881]

46.

Arguments on liability

[886]

47.

The initial response: failing to put out the fire on 24 December 2001

[886]

48.

Where the fire began: the arguments

[893]

49.

Conclusion on where the fire began

[931]

50.

When the fire was first observed by the defendants: the arguments

[932]

51.

Conclusion on when the fire was first observed by the defendants

[977]

52.

Breaches of protocol: the arguments

[980]

53.

Conclusion on breaches of protocol

[997]

54.

Whether the defendants selected the correct fire fighting strategy: the arguments

[998]

55.

Availability of aircraft

[1002]

56.

Conclusion on availability of aircraft

[1015]

57.

Conclusion on the strategy adopted

[1017]

58.

Ground crew availability: the arguments

[1058]

59.

Conclusion on ground crew availability

[1062]

60.

The Mount Hall Fire Trail's fitness for use: the arguments

[1018]

61.

The view

[1055]

62.

Conclusion on fitness for use

[1057]

63.

Fire intensity

[1063]

64.

Conclusion on fire intensity

[1081]

65.

Plaintiffs attacks on credit of some defendants' witnesses

[1082]

66.

Whether the fire could have been contained: the arguments

[1111]

67.

Conclusion on whether the fire could have been contained

[1112]

PART IV: Arguments and resolution of issues on second alternative case

[1114]-[1279]

68.

The warning case

[1114]

69.

First period: from 2.20pm on 24 December: the arguments

[1117]

70.

Conclusion on the first period

[1143]

71.

Second period: from 8.30am to 11.00am on Christmas day: the arguments

[1144]

72.

Conclusion on the second period

[1177]

73.

Third period: from 11.00am on Christmas day: the arguments

[1178]

74.

Conclusion on the third period

[1204]

75.

Fourth period: from 1.00pm onwards on Christmas day

[1205]

76.

Conclusion on the fourth period

[1208]

77.

SCA's obligation as an occupier to warn

[1169]

78.

Conclusion on the SCA's obligation to warn

[1172]

79.

Causation: the general submissions

[1222]

80.

Inspector Lambert

[1263]

81.

Inspector Lambert's credit

[1267]

PART V: The individual cases on causation and damage

[1280]-[1906]

82.

Lionel Fowler

[1303]

83.

Mr Fowler's credit

[1314]

84.

Mr Dunbar's credit

[1332]

85.

Causation

[1315]

86.

Damages

[1344]

87.

Conclusion

[1357]

88.

Joseph and Jodie Gauci

[1358]

89.

Mr Joseph Gauci's credit

[1374]

90.

Mr John Gauci's credit

[1392]

91.

Mr Mario Camilleri's credit

[1394]

92.

Causation

[1395]

93.

Damages

[1360]

94.

Conclusion

[1407]

95.

Ernest and Gillian Hausler

[1408]

96.

Mr Hausler's credit

[1418]

97.

Causation

[1426]

98.

Damages

[1409]

99.

Conclusion

[1443]

100.

Vitomir Kuzmanovic

[1448]

101.

Mr Kuzmanovic's credit

[1465]

102.

Causation

[1471]

103.

Damages

[1453]

104.

Conclusion

[1486]

105.

Michelle and Mark Larden

[1487]

106.

Ms Larden's credit

[1493]

107.

Mr Larden's credit

[1497]

108.

Causation

[1514]

109.

Damages

[1501]

110.

Conclusion

[1529]

111.

Bruno Lopreiato

[1530]

112.

Mr Lopreiato's credit

[1546]

113.

Causation

[1531]

114.

Damages

[1556]

115.

Conclusion

[1561]

116.

Alexander and Suzanne Lynch

[1562]

117.

Mr Lynch' credit

[1581]

118.

Causation

[1565]

119.

Damages

[1589]

120.

Conclusion

[1591]

121.

Darryl and Tracey Nix

[1592]

122.

Mr Nix' credit

[1599]

123.

Causation

[1595]

124.

Damages

[1638]

125.

Conclusion

[1644]

126.

Michael O'Brien

[1645]

127.

Mr O'Brien's credit

[1646]

128.

Causation

[1654]

129.

Damages

[1645]

130.

Conclusion

[1663]

131.

Michael and Jane Passlow

[1665]

132.

Mr Passlow's credit

[1680]

133.

Causation

[1681]

134.

Damages

[1699]

135.

Conclusion

[1703]

136.

Antol and Wanda Plachozki

[1704]

137.

Mrs Plachozki's credit

[1715]

138.

Mr Paul Plachozki's credit

[1719]

139.

Causation

[1720]

140.

Damages

[1743]

141.

Conclusion

[1745]

142.

Josephine and Paul Quigley

[1746]

143.

Mrs Quigley's credit

[1749]

144.

Causation

[1748]

145.

Damages

[1760]

146.

Conclusion

[1766]

147.

Richard and Joanne Sheppard

[1767]

148.

Mr Sheppard's credit

[1775]

149.

Causation

[1769]

150.

Damages

[1798]

151.

Conclusion

[1800]

152.

Russell and Joanne Sheppard

[1801]

153.

Mr Sheppard's credit

[1805]

154.

Causation

[1811]

155.

Damages

[1839]

156.

Conclusion

[1858]

157.

Warragamba Winery Pty Ltd

[1859]

158.

Mr Peter De'Chellis' credit

[1863]

159.

Mr David De' Chellis' credit

[1876]

160.

Causation

[1870]

161.

Damages

[1865]

162.

Conclusion

[1896]

163.

Summary of reasons why all claims failed

[1897]

164.

Summary of provisional damages awards

[1903]

165.

Summary of findings

[1904]

166.

Conclusions on Plaintiffs' list of issues

[1905]

167.

Orders

[1906]

Some commonly encountered acronyms and expressions

Air desk

Part of an administrative arm of the RFS, which coordinates allocation and use of aircraft, and determines priorities

Bimlow map

Exhibit A

BK

A helicopter

BM

Blue Mountains

BMRFS

Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service

BMRFSD

Blue Mountains Rural Fire Service District

Cat 1

A category 1 fire truck used by the RFS with capacity to carry a large quantity of water, and a crew

Cat 2

A category 2 fire truck also used by the RFS with capacity to carry a large quantity of water, and a crew

Cat 9

A category 9, also called a striker, usually a Toyota Landcruiser, used buy the RFS, with a capacity to carry up to 500 litres of water

Class 3 fire

A major bush fire, or major bush fires, usually the subject of a s 44 declaration

CLA

Civil Liability Act 2002

Composite

Vehicle used by the FB, smaller than a pumper and a tanker, but capable of pumping from a hydrant and carrying some water

FB

New South Wales Fire Brigade

FB39

A Jet Ranger helicopter used by the NPWS

FB44

A Squirrel helicopter used by the NPWS

FBA

Fire Brigades Act 1989

GPS

Global positioning system

HT26

A Helitac helicopter

IAP

Incident action plan, a document prepared by an IMT, containing strategies, and referring to resources to be used in the strategies for the next 12 hours. It is intended for the use of the shift following that which prepares it

IMT

Incident management team: the team set up to manage a fire after a s 44 RFA declaration.

Jet Ranger

Small sized helicopter which can be used to bucket fires, convey passengers and conduct surveillance

LGA

Local Government Act 2007

MICC

FB's major incident control centre in Sydney

NPWS

National Parks and Wildlife Service

NPWA

National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974

PRFSD

Penrith RFS District

Pumper

A FB vehicle which can use mains water from hydrants at the fire scene: it also carries water

RAFT

Remote area fire team

RFA

Rural Fires Act 1997

RFS

Rural Fire Service of NSW

SCA

Sydney Catchment Authority

Sitrep

A situation report, designed to give a snapshot of a fire, and a description of resources committed to it, at a particular time

Squirrel

A medium sized helicopter which can be used to bucket fires, convey passengers, and conduct surveillance

SOP

Standard operating procedure

State ops

An administrative arm of the RFS based at Rosehill, which operated at times of high fire activity

SWCMA

Sydney Water Catchment Management Act 1998

Tanker

A FB vehicle capable of carrying more water than a pumper

Tender

A FB bus which conveys a fire fighting crew

WRFS

Wollondilly Rural Fire Service

WRFSD

Wollondilly Rural Fire Service District

Some commonly encountered names

Mr Healey

NPWS supervisor of seasonal fire fighting team, and air observer

Mr Jacobs

RFS deputy fire control officer at BMRFS

Mr Kondek

SCA employee

Mr Koperberg

Commissioner of the RFS at the time of the fire

Mr Luscombe

NPWS regional manager of the BM region

Mr Manna

SCA employee

Mr McTaggart

Deputy fire control officer at WRFS

Mr Phillips

District manager and fire control officer at WRFS

Mr Tolhurst

Deputy fire control officer at BMRFS

Mr Waldron

Catchment operations manager for SCA

Mr Williams

RFS fire tower operator and observer at Narrow Neck

Mr Wolter

NPWS area manager of the BM region

Amendments

02 July 2012 - typographical errors
Amended paragraphs: many

DISCLAIMER - Every effort has been made to comply with suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication that may apply to this judgment or decision. The onus remains on any person using material in the judgment or decision to ensure that the intended use of that material does not breach any such order or provision. Further enquiries may be directed to the Registry of the Court or Tribunal in which it was generated.

Decision last updated: 02 July 2012