Environment Protection Authority v McMullen [2020] NSWLEC 87

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v McMullen [2020] NSWLEC 87 Hearing dates: 3 July 2020 Date of orders: 10 July 2020 Decision date: 10 July 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [191]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: knowingly giving information that was false or misleading in a material particular – plea of guilty – sentencing principles – no actual environmental harm – low risk of potential harm – harm to regulatory regime – state of mind of defendant at the time of the commission of the offence – whether defendant failed to heed warnings – whether offence planned or premeditated – whether there was delay in commencing the prosecution – extra-curial punishment – monetary penalty imposed – costs orders made. Legislation Cited: Contaminated Land Management Act 1997, ss 3, 4, 48(1), 53B, 57(1), 97, 103(1) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986, s 257B Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1995, ss 144AA(2), 191(1), 211(2) Cases Cited: Alameddine v The Queen [2006] NSWCCA 317 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [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 Cessnock City Council v Quintaz [2010] NSWLEC 3; (2010) 172 LGERA 52 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194; (2010) 79 NSWLR 1 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Environment Protection Authority v Aargus Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 19 Environment Protection Authority v Albiston [2020] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Alcobell Pty Ltd, Environment Protection Authority v Campbell [2015] NSWLEC 123 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Complete Asbestos Removal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Endacott [2016] NSWLEC 167; (2016) 221 LGERA 24 Environment Protection Authority v Djura [2012] NSWLEC 122 Environment Protection Authority v Edward Gilder [2018] NSWLEC 119 Environment Protection Authority v GrainCorp Operations Limited [2019] NSWLEC 143 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2018] NSWLEC 80; (2018) 235 LGERA 114 Environment Protection Authority v Hargraves (No 2) [2003] NSWLEC 15; (2003) 124 LGERA 57 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 Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Jackhammer Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 105 Environment Protection Authority v Peters [2006] NSWLEC 612; (2006) 153 LGERA 238 Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 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 Hewitt v The Queen [2007] NSWCCA 353; (2007) 180 A Crim R 306 Kearsley v R [2017] NSWCCA 28; (2017) 265 A Crim R 233 Knight v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 51 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Mansour v R [2011] NSWCCA 28 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council v David Peter Waite (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 60 R v Daetz; R v Wilson [2003] NSWCCA 216; (2003) 139 A Crim R 398 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Yildiz [2006] NSWCCA 97; (2006) 160 A Crim R 218 Ryan v The Queen [2001] HCA 21; (2001) 206 CLR 267 Saddler v The Queen [2009] NSWCCA 83; (2009) 194 A Crim R 452 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Kate Lyall McMullen (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J McGarity (Solicitor) (Prosecutor) D Randle (Defendant)