Broken Hill City Council v Unique Urban Built Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 825

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Broken Hill City Council v Unique Urban Built Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 825 Hearing dates: 27 April, 18 May, 2018 Decision date: 05 June 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Hammerschlag J Decision: Pursuant to s 8(1) of the Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW), the plaintiff and first defendant are referred to arbitration Catchwords: COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION – Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW) – application for an order that the plaintiff and first defendant be referred to arbitration – arbitration agreement – whether there is an operative agreement between the parties to submit to arbitration – the meaning of inoperative – where the person prescribed in the contract to nominate an arbitrator does not exist – whether non-existence of person prescribed to nominate an arbitrator renders the agreement inoperative; HELD – the parties' arbitration agreement is operative – plaintiff and first defendant referred to arbitration Legislation Cited: Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 (NSW) Cases Cited: John Holland Pty Ltd v Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 451 Wilkie v Gordian Runoff Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 522 Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104 Lucky-Goldstar International (HK) Ltd v NG Moo Kee Engineering Ltd [1993] HKCFI 14 Sembawang Engineers and Constructors Pte Ltd v Covec (Singapore) Pte Ltd [2008] SGHC 229 Nova West Contracting Pty Ltd v Brimbank City Council [2015] VSC 679 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd v Hooker Corp Ltd unreported, Full Federal Court of Australia, 10 August 1989 - G10 of 1989 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Broken Hill City Council - Plaintiff Unique Urban Built Pty Ltd - First Defendant Allen Jack + Cottier Architects Pty Ltd - Second Defendant Representation: Counsel: F.C. Corsaro SC - Plaintiff/Respondent T. Duggan SC (27 April) with M. Sheldon (27 April, 18 May) - First Defendant/Applicant M. Auld - Second Defendant