Ventia Australia Pty Ltd v BSA Advanced Property Solutions (Fire) Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1534

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ventia Australia Pty Ltd v BSA Advanced Property Solutions (Fire) Pty Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1534 Hearing dates: 24 June 2021, last submissions 27 October 2021 Date of orders: 30 November 2021 Decision date: 30 November 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: Rees J Decision: Quash adjudicator's determination. Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – adjudication – payment claim seeks payment in respect of multiple construction contracts – case law review at [10]-[26] – section to be construed in the singular (at [27]-[33]) – s13(1) Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) requires payment claim in respect of one contract – adjudication determination based on such a payment claim is void (at [34]-[42]) – obiter in Ausipile v Bothar Boring [2021] QCA 223 plainly wrong – no "arrangement" where there is a contract – clauses providing that work orders comprise a new agreement do not exclude, modify or restrict operation of the Act. Legislation Cited: Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3, 4, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 34; sch 2, pt 6 Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Amendment Act 2018 (NSW) Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 (Qld), ss 70, 75, 79 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 8 Cases Cited: Acciona Infrastructure Australia Pty Ltd v Holcim (Australia) Pty Ltd [2020] NSWSC 1330 Agricultural and Rural Finance Pty Ltd v Gardiner (2008) 238 CLR 570; [2008] HCA 57 Agripower Australia Ltd v J & D Rigging Pty Ltd [2013] QSC 164 Ausipile Pty Ltd v Bothar Boring and Tunnelling (Australia) Pty Ltd [2021] QCA 223 Ausipile Pty Ltd v Bothar Boring and Tunnelling (Australia) Pty Ltd [2021] QSC 39 BRB Modular Pty Ltd v AWX Constructions Pty Ltd [2015] QSC 218 Brodyn Pty Ltd v Davenport (2004) 61 NSWLR 421; [2004] NSWCA 394 Canterbury-Bankstown Council v Payce Communities Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1803 Castle Constructions Pty Ltd v Ghossayn Group Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1317 Chase Oyster Bar Pty Ltd v Hamo Industries Pty Ltd (2010) 78 NSWLR 393; [2010] NSWCA 190 Chief Commissioner of State Revenue v Benidorm Pty Ltd (2020) 104 NSWLR 232; [2020] NSWCA 285 Class Electrical Services v Go Electrical [2013] NSWSC 363 Coleman v Power (2004) 220 CLR 1; [2004] HCA 39 CSR Ltd v Eddy (2005) 226 CLR 1; [2005] HCA 64 Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Glengallan Investments Pty Ltd (2004) 218 CLR 471; [2004] HCA 55 GEC Marconi Systems Pty Ltd v BHP Information Technology Pty Ltd (2003) 128 FCR 1; [2003] FCA 50 Greenwood Futures Pty Ltd v DSD Builders Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1407 Hill as Trustee for the Ashmore Superannuation Benefit Fund v Halo Architectural Design Services Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 865 Hill v Halo Architectural Design Services Pty Ltd [2013] NSWSC 865 Lean Field Developments Pty Ltd v E & I Global Solutions (Aust) Pty Ltd [2014] QSC 293 Lendlease Engineering Pty Ltd v Timecon Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 685 Levadetes Pty Ltd v Iberian Artisans Pty Ltd [2009] NSWSC 641 Machkevitch v Andrew Building Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 546 Matrix Projects (Qld) Pty Ltd v Luscombe [2013] QSC 4 Nepean Engineering Pty Ltd v Total Process Services Pty Ltd (in liq) (2005) 64 NSWLR 462; [2005] NSWCA 409 Okaroo Pty Ltd v Vos Construction and Joinery Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 45 Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd v Shade Systems Pty Ltd (2018) 264 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 4 Rail Corporation of NSW v Nebax Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] NSWSC 6 Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty Ltd v Ostwald Bros Pty Ltd (in liq) [2018] NSWSC 412 SHA Premier Constructions Pty Ltd v Lanskey Constructions [2019] QSC 81 Southern Han Breakfast Point Pty Ltd v Lewence Construction Pty Ltd (2016) 260 CLR 340; [2016] HCA 52 TFM Epping Land Pty Ltd v Decon Australia Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCA 93 Trinco (NSW) Pty Ltd v Alpha A Group Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 239 Vannella Pty Ltd v TFM Epping Land Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1379 Texts Cited: Perry Herzfeld, Thomas Prince, Interpretation (2nd ed, 2020, Lawbook Co) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ventia Australia Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) BSA Advanced Property Solutions (Fire) Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Edward Smithies (Second Defendant) Australia Solutions Centre Pty Ltd (Third Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr L Shipway (Plaintiff) Mr M Christie SC / Mr D Hume (First Defendant) Submitting appearance (Second and Third Defendants)