Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Budvalt Pty Ltd; Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Harris [2020] NSWLEC 113

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Budvalt Pty Ltd; Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Harris [2020] NSWLEC 113 Hearing dates: 26 August 2020 Date of orders: 29 September 2020 Decision date: 29 September 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Moore J Decision: See orders at [195] Catchwords: SENTENCE - four charges - plea of guilty by corporation to a single rolled-up charge of unlawful construction and use of a water supply work without holding an approval for that work - remaining charges against the corporation and the charge against the individual defendant to be dismissed - consideration of potential aggravating factors - whether offending conduct was carried out for financial gain - consideration of defendant's subjective factors - extent of contrition and remorse - extent of likelihood of reoffending - other subjective factors favourable to defendant - need for general deterrence - consideration of other potentially relevant prosecutions - appropriate starting penalty at the top of the low range for such conduct - plea of guilty not entered at earliest opportunity but of more than minor utilitarian value - discount of 10% on starting penalty appropriate - fine of $252,000 imposed Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B and 257G Crimes Sentencing Procedure Act 1999, ss 3, 21A, 22 and 23 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Fines Act 1996, s 122 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Water Management Act 2000, ss 3, 91B, 353G, 363B and 364A Cases Cited: Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Caralis v Smyth (1988) 65 LGRA 303 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Ausgrid (2013) 199 LGERA 1; [2013] NSWLEC 51 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Bombala Investments Pty Ltd (2013) 199 LGERA 236; [2013] NSWLEC 185 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Boyle [2019] NSWLEC 54 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Parrish & Son Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 47 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 158 Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Hongzhi Sun v Grant Barnes [2018] NSWLEC 196 Markarian v R (2005) 229 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Ostrowski v Palmer (2004) 218 CLR 493; [2004] HCA 30 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v O'Neill (1979) 2 NSWLR 582 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 383 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Wollongong Recycling (NSW) Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 125 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Walden v Hensler (1987)163 CLR 561; [1987] HCA 54 Texts Cited: COVID-19 Pandemic Arrangements Policy Category: Sentence Parties: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator (Prosecutor) Budvalt Pty Ltd (Defendant in Matters 231599, 231598 and 231621 of 2018) Jack Harris (Defendant in Matter 231608 of 2018) Representation: Counsel: Mr E Muston SC/Ms G Wright, barrister (Prosecutor) Mr M Elliott SC/Ms G Lewer, barrister (Defendants)