Kiangatha Holdings Pty Ltd v Water NSW [2020] NSWCCA 263

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Kiangatha Holdings Pty Ltd v Water NSW [2020] NSWCCA 263 Hearing dates: 15 June 2020 Date of orders: 19 October 2020 Decision date: 19 October 2020 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1]; Rothman J at [2]; Fagan J at [3] Decision: (1) Leave granted to the applicants pursuant to s 5F of the Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) to appeal against the orders of the Land and Environment Court made 20 December 2019 in proceedings 2018/295909, 2018/295910, 2018/295911 and 2018/295912. (2) Appeal upheld. (3) Order numbered (1) in each of proceedings 2018/295909, 2018/295910, 2018/295911 and 2018/295912 made by the Land and Environment Court on 20 December 2019 is set aside. (4) In lieu thereof it is ordered that further proceedings on each summons are stayed until the respondent elects and particularises in relation to each summons a single offence contrary to s 120 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 upon which the respondent will proceed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal – Land and Environment Court – whether summonses bad for duplicity – appeal upheld Legislation Cited: Clean Waters Act 1970 (NSW) (rep) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) Cases Cited: Brownlie v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 27 NSWLR 78 Director of Public Prosecutions v Merriman [1973] AC 584 Environment Protection Authority v Bathurst City Council (1995) 89 LGERA 79 Environment Protection Authority v Riverina Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 90 NSWLR 57; [2015] NSWCCA 165 Environment Protection Authority v Truegain Pty Ltd (2013) 85 NSWLR 125; [2013] NSWCCA 204 Hakim v Waterways Authority of New South Wales [2006] NSWCCA 376 Hannes v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (No.2) [2006] NSWCCA 373 Iannella v French (1968) 119 CLR 84; [1968] HCA 14 Johnson v Miller (1937) 59 CLR 467; [1937] HCA 77 McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (2000) 50 NSWLR 127; [2000] NSWCCA 367 S v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 266; [1989] HCA 66 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCCA 202 Walsh v Tattersall (1996) 188 CLR 77; [1996] HCA 26 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kiangatha Holdings Pty Ltd (first applicant) Laurence Natale (second applicant) Water NSW (respondent) Representation: Counsel: C Ireland (applicants) M Wright SC with Z Shahnawaz (respondent)