Environment Protection Authority v Albiston [2020] NSWLEC 80

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Albiston [2020] NSWLEC 80 Hearing dates: 23 June 2020 Date of orders: 26 June 2020 Decision date: 26 June 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [191]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: person concerned in the management of a company which caused a place to be used as a waste facility without lawful authority – executive liability - plea of guilty – sentencing principles – no actual environmental harm – low potential for environmental harm – whether offence committed recklessly - substantial financial losses to third party caused by the commission of the offence – offence committed for financial gain – whether defendant had capacity to pay monetary penalty to be imposed - monetary penalty imposed – costs orders made. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986, s 257B Fines Act 1966, s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 48, 144(1), 169(1), 169(1A), 241, 248(1), 250(1), Sch 1 cl 42, Dictionary Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Turnbull [2014] NSWLEC 150 Chief Executive, Office of Environment & Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery [2012] NSWLEC 271; (2012) 192 LGERA 314 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Edward Gilder [2018] NSWLEC 119 Environment Protection Authority v Geoff Robinson Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2011] NSWLEC 14 Environment Protection Authority v GrainCorp Operations Limited [2019] NSWLEC 143 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2018] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v Rands [2019] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Ridley AgriProducts Pty Limited [2019] NSWLEC 119 Environment Protection Authority v Smart Skip (NSW) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 204 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited [2019] NSWLEC 27 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84; (2014) 86 NSWLR 422 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 Plath v Vaccount Pty t/as Tableland Timbers [2011] NSWLEC 202 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Rahme v R (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Shaun Albiston (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Rose (Prosecutor) N Hammond (Defendant)