Sovereign Hills Project Pty Ltd & Ors v MMTR Pty Ltd & Ors [2012] NSWSC 763

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sovereign Hills Project Pty Ltd & Ors v MMTR Pty Ltd & Ors [2012] NSWSC 763 Hearing dates: 22.05.12, 23.05.12 Decision date: 09 July 2012 Before: Nicholas J Decision: Par 63 Catchwords: CONTRACT - construction of interrelated agreements for large development project - compulsory acquisition by RTA of part of land owned by a party - whether party required under the agreements to account for compensation received - whether compensation the proceeds of sale within the contractual definition of "Revenue" - whether compulsory acquisition within the contractual definition of "Disposal" ESTOPPEL - equitable estoppel - whether plaintiffs estopped from requiring defendants to account for compensation received - turns on facts - no question of general principle Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 Cases Cited: Coburg Investment Co Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation [1960] HCA 90; (1960) 104 CLR 650 Commissioner of Taxation v Salenger (1988) 19 FCR 378 DHJPM Pty Ltd v Blackthorn Resources Ltd [2011] NSWCA 348; (2011) 285 ALR 311 Franklins Pty Ltd v Metcash Trading Ltd [2009] NSWCA 407; (2009) 76 NSWLR 603 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Sovereign Hills Project Pty Ltd - first plaintiff Taisei Oncho Australia Pty Ltd - second plaintiff NT Australia Pty Ltd - third plaintiff MMTR Pty Ltd - first defendant Bitonto Pty Ltd - second defendant Tullamo Pty Ltd -third defendant Nerla Pty Ltd - fourth defendant Kevin Michael Gleeson & Carol Anne Gleeson - fifth defendant Almaty Pty Ltd - sixth defendant The Gateway (Port Macquarie) Pty Ltd - seventh defendant Representation: Counsel: J C Giles - plaintiffs A J J Thompson (solicitor) - first and sixth defendants Solicitors: Corrs Chambers Westgarth - plaintiffs Ritchie & Castellan solicitors - first and sixth defendants File Number(s): 11/186949