MP Water Pty Ltd v Veolia Water Australia Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 582

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: MP Water Pty Ltd v Veolia Water Australia Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 582 Hearing dates: 20 May 2021 Date of orders: 20 May 2021 Decision date: 24 May 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Rees J Decision: Mandatory interim injunction ordered. Catchwords: INTERIM INJUNCTION – mandatory injunction – defendant operates water treatment facility for mines – defendant obliged to treat water regardless of quality – dispute as to water quality – dispute as to work on holding pond – defendant stores disputed water in disputed pond – defendant refuses to treat disputed water – no capacity to take more water – water from mine stopped – mines begin to flood – "step-in" notice issued – whether Court should determine question of law on interim application – principles at [67] – decline to decide complex question on duty judge application – serious question to be tried – balance of convenience favours making orders to treat water. Cases Cited: Albarran v Envirostar Energy Ltd [2002] NSWSC 108 Australian Broadcasting Corporation v O'Neill (2006) 227 CLR 57; [2006] HCA 46 Beecham Group Ltd v Bristol Laboratories Pty Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 618; [1968] HCA 1 Bingham v 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd [2003] QCA 402 Businessworld Computers Pty Ltd v Australian Telecommunications Commission [1988] FCA 127; (1988) 82 ALR 499 Clough v Breen [2020] NSWSC 653 Cohen v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 70; (1986) 68 ALR 394 Curro v Beyond Productions Pty Ltd (1993) 30 NSWLR 337 ETT v IPSTAR Australia [2008] NSWSC 644 Films Rover International Ltd v Cannon Film Sales Ltd [1987] 1 WLR 670 Garnock v Black [2005] NSWCA 475 Garnock v Black [2005] NSWSC 1052 General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125; [1964] HCA 69 Greetings Oxford Koala v Oxford Square Investments Pty Ltd (1989) 18 NSWLR 33 In the matter of A Twins Spare Parts Pty Limited [2019] NSWSC 1347 Mineralogy Pty Ltd v Sino Iron Pty Ltd [2016] WASCA 105 National Commercial Bank Jamaica Ltd v Olint Corporation Ltd [2009] UKPC 16 NWL Ltd v Woods [1979] 1 WLR 1294 Optus Networks Pty Ltd v City of Boroondara [1997] 2 VR 318 Racecourse Totalizators Pty Ltd v Totalisator Administration Board of Queensland (1995) 58 FCR 119; [1995] FCA 1405 Samsung Electronics Company Ltd v Apple Inc (2011) 217 FCR 238; [2011] FCAFC 156 Shepherd Homes Ltd v Sandham [1971] Ch 340 Sugar Australia Pty Ltd v Lend Lease Services Pty Ltd [2015] VSCA 98 The Trust Company (Australia) Ltd v NextDC Ltd [2018] NSWSC 736 Tymbook Pty Ltd v State of Victoria (2006) 15 VR 65; [2006] VSCA 89 Warner-Lambert Co LCC v Apotex Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 59; (2014) 311 ALR 632 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Heydon on Contract (2019, Lawbook Co) J D Heydon, M J Leeming and P G Turner, Meagher, Gummow & Lehane's Equity: Doctrines & Remedies (5th ed, 2014, LexisNexis) Category: Procedural rulings Parties: MP Water Pty Ltd in its capacity as trustee for the MP Water Trust (Plaintiff) Veolia Water Australia Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Boulder Mining Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Centennial Springvale Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) EnergyAustralia NSW Pty Ltd (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Giles SC / Mr J Hutton (Plaintiff) Mr M Ashhurst SC / Ms J Wright (First Defendant) Ms H Mann (Second, Third, Fourth Defendants)