The Owners – Strata Plan 81837 v Multiplex Hurstville Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1488

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: The Owners – Strata Plan 81837 v Multiplex Hurstville Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1488 Hearing dates: 21 - 23 August 2018; further written submissions 29 August and 3 September 2018 Decision date: 04 October 2018 Jurisdiction: Equity - Technology and Construction List Before: Stevenson J Decision: Separate questions each answered "No" Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – separate questions – "owner" – Home Building Act 1989 – whether development manager and another party named in development management agreement were owners and thus developers of land for the purposes of the Home Building Act 1989

BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – separate questions – "contract to do residential building work" – Home Building Act 1989 – development management agreement – whether development management agreement is a contract to do residential building work

MISLEADING OR DECEPTIVE CONDUCT – separate questions - representations made to principal certifying authority under Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 – whether made in trade or commerce Legislation Cited: Building Professionals Act 2005 (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Fair Trading Act 1987 (NSW) Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Home Building Amendment (Warranties and Insurance) Act 2010 (NSW) Home Building Amendment Act 2011 (NSW) Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (Cth) Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ace Woollahra Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan 61424 (2010) 77 NSWLR 613; [2010] NSWCA 101 Allen v Roughley (1955) 94 CLR 98; [1955] HCA 62 Australia Capital Financial Management Pty Ltd v Linfield Developments Pty Ltd; Guan v Linfield Developments Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 99 Barba v Gas & Fuel Corporation of Victoria (1976) 136 CLR 120; [1976] HCA 60 Chapman v Luminis Pty Ltd (No 4) (2001) 123 FCR 62; [2001] FCA 1106 Cochrane v Federal Commissioner of Land Tax (1916) 21 CLR 422; [1916] HCA 31 Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594; [1990] HCA 17 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 147 CLR 297; [1981] HCA 26 CPT Custodian Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (2005) 224 CLR 98; [2005] HCA 53 Dresna Pty Ltd v Misu Nominees Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 169 Electrolux Home Products Pty Ltd v Australian Workers' Union (2004) 221 CLR 309; [2004] HCA 40 Ellison v Sandini Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 44 Gardez Nominees Pty Ltd v NSW Self Insurance Corporation [2016] NSWSC 532 GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd v Pharmacor Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 1202 Glenn v Federal Commissioner of Land Tax (1915) 20 CLR 490; [1915] HCA 57 Global Network Services Pty Ltd v Legion Telecall Pty Ltd [2001] ACL Rep 110 NSW 55; [2001] NSWCA 279 Glueck v Stang (2008) 76 IPR 75; [2008] FCA 148 Interpharma Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Patents (2008) 107 ALD 342; [2008] FCA 1283 Gold & Copper Resources Pty Ltd v Newcrest Operations Ltd [2013] NSWSC 281 Houghton v Arms (2006) 225 CLR 553; [2006] HCA 59 Karingal 2 Holdings Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue [2002] VSC 431 Lygon Nominees Pty Ltd v Commissioner of State Revenue (2007) 23 VR 474; [2007] VSCA 140 Mant v Deputy Federal Commissioner of Land Tax for Queensland (1915) 20 CLR 564; [1915] HCA 46 Max Sgammotta Architects v South Sydney City Council (NSW Land and Environment Court, Pearlman J, 30 October 1996, unrep) Mount Bruce Mining Pty Ltd v Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd (2015) 256 CLR 104; [2015] HCA 37 Owners Corporation Strata Plan 72535 v Brookfield [2012] NSWSC 712 Re Alcan Australia Ltd; Ex Parte Federation of Industrial, Manufacturing and Engineering Employees (1994) 181 CLR 96; [1994] HCA 34 Souglides v Tweedie [2013] Ch 373 Street v Luna Park Sydney Pty Ltd (2009) 223 FLR 245; [2009] NSWSC 1 Trust Company of Australia Ltd v Valuer-General (2008) 101 SASR 110; [2008] SASC 169 Union Trustee Co of Australia Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Land Tax (1915) 20 CLR 526; [1915] HCA 68 Village Building Co Ltd v Canberra International Airport Pty Ltd (2004) 139 FCR 330; [2004] FCAFC 240 Wik Peoples v The State of Queensland (1996) 187 CLR 1; [1996] HCA 40 Texts Cited: Australian Law Dictionary (Oxford University Press) D J Farrands, The Law of Options and Other Pre-emptive Rights (2nd ed, 2012, Thomson Reuters) Home Building Amendment Bill 2011 (NSW), Second Reading Speech, 19 October 2011 K Lewison & D Hughes, The Interpretation of Contracts in Australia, (2012, Lawbook Co) K Lewison, The Interpretation of Contracts, (2nd ed, 1997, Sweet & Maxwell) P W Young, E L G Tyler and M L Smith, On Equity (2009, Thomson Reuters) S L Phipson, Best on Evidence (12th ed, 1922, Sweet & Maxwell) Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Owners – Strata Plan 81837 (Plaintiff) Multiplex Hurstville Pty Ltd (First Defendant) SLH 22 Pty Ltd (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Bambagiotti (Plaintiff) A S Bell SC with J J Hutton (First Defendant) D Neggo (Second Defendant)