The court is facing significant costs in dealing with an ongoing dispute between East Rockingham RRF and Acciona over the evidence exchange process. The parties have been bickering about whether to exchange documents or proceed directly to witness statements and oral evidence. Judge Colvin has taken the extraordinary step of summoning representatives from both parties to a hearing to address the dispute and determine the need for further discovery. He is considering sending the parties for private peace talks at their own expense. Deadlines have been set for East Rockingham RRF to submit evidence by June 28 and for Acciona to respond by July 12, with the matter scheduled to return to court on August 9.
The dispute arises from a construction contract signed 4½ years ago to build a waste treatment facility in Perth. The facility, which will treat up to 330,000 tonnes of waste and generate electricity for 36,000 homes annually, is a joint venture involving Acciona, Hitachi, and John Laing. The project has received $75 million in government funding, with delays due to the pandemic pushing the completion date back by two years. The plant is now expected to be operational by the end of 2024. The majority of the waste for the facility will be supplied by surrounding local governments, with support from the government-owned Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
Judge Colvin expressed frustration at the escalating costs of the court proceedings and the apparent lack of progress in resolving the dispute between East Rockingham RRF and Acciona. By summoning representatives from both parties to the next hearing, he hopes to gain a better understanding of the issues at hand and potential solutions. He is considering the option of sending the parties for private peace talks, which would require them to bear the costs themselves. The court has set deadlines for the submission of evidence and responses, with the matter scheduled to return to court in August for further consideration.
The construction of the waste treatment facility in Perth has faced numerous challenges, including delays caused by the pandemic and disputes between the parties involved. The facility, which is a joint venture between Acciona, Hitachi, and John Laing, is expected to provide waste treatment services for the region and generate electricity for thousands of homes. The project has received substantial government funding, with the construction costs escalating due to delays and disputes. Despite the challenges, the facility is now expected to be operational by the end of 2024, providing essential waste treatment services for the local community.
The ongoing dispute between East Rockingham RRF and Acciona over the evidence exchange process has escalated to the point where the court is facing significant costs and delays in resolving the issues. Judge Colvin has taken steps to address the dispute by summoning representatives from both parties to a hearing and setting deadlines for the submission of evidence. He is considering the option of sending the parties for private peace talks to try and reach a resolution. The construction of the waste treatment facility, which has faced delays and challenges, is expected to be operational by the end of 2024, providing essential waste treatment services for the region.