The NSW government and the former developer of a stalled $2 billion Central Barangaroo development project are headed for a discovery showdown in their $270 million stoush, with both sides fighting to protect what they say are privileged communications.
A bid by the liquidators of collapsed engineering company Hastie Group for Lendlease to pay back funds it withdrew under bank guarantees is “untenable” and “misconceived”, a court has heard in a $68 million case that also targets Multiplex, Grocon and John Holland.
Property developer Grocon has “reluctantly” put its construction business into administration, blaming the NSW government’s handling of the Central Barangaroo development project which has sparked a $270 million lawsuit in the NSW Supreme Court.
Multiplex is calling for the liquidators of collapsed engineering services group Hastie to pay its costs, and pay now, for pursuing an action to recover millions of dollars in unpaid bills on the grounds that the construction company was not entitled to offset its debts with amounts owing.