Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2020] NSWLEC 153

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2020] NSWLEC 153 Hearing dates: 6 October 2020 Date of orders: 11 November 2020 Decision date: 11 November 2020 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See [122] of judgment Catchwords: PROSECUTION – sentencing – pollution of waters – plea of guilty – flushing of sewage effluent in national park – sewage overflow not subject of charge –assessment of environmental harm does not include sewage overflow – failure to implement recommendations for manual clean-up before flushing – practical measures to avoid harm not taken – high range of low objective seriousness – prior convictions an aggravating factor – discount for early guilty plea – likelihood of re-offending low – defendant of good corporate character – remorse demonstrated PROSECUTION – sentencing – breach of condition of environment protection licence – plea of guilty –failure to take all reasonable and feasible actions as soon as practicable to minimise impact of sewage overflow not subject of charge – failure to properly clean up sewage over three week period – no aggravating state of mind due to application of De Simoni principle – high range of low objective seriousness – discount for early guilty plea – likelihood of re-offending low – defendant of good corporate character – remorse demonstrated Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 21A, 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996 (NSW) s 122 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) s 30E Protection of Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 3, 64, 116, 120, 123, 241, Pt 8.3 (ss 248, 250), s 253A Cases Cited: Andrews v DPP [1937] AC 576 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kyluk Pty Limited (No 4) (2014) 212 LGERA 1; [2014] NSWLEC 74 Cittadini v The Queen [2009] NSWCCA 302 Dare v Pulham (1982) 148 CLR 658; [1982] HCA 70 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Einfeld v R (2010) 200 A Crim R 1; [2010] NSWCCA 87 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd (2008) 163 LGERA 71; [2008] NSWLEC 280 Environment Protection Authority v Ecolab (2002) 123 LGERA 269; [2002] NSWLEC 206 Environment Protection Authority v Hawkesbury City Council [2017] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (2014) 206 LGERA 239; [2014] NSWLEC 103 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) (2012) 192 LGERA 415; [2012] NSWLEC 220 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd (2008) 162 LGERA 273; [2008] NSWLEC 264 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2015] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Tea Garden Farms Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Environment Protection Authority v Wattke; Environment Protection Authority v Geerdink [2010] NSWLEC 24 Environment Protection Authority v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 72 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) (2009) 164 LGERA 287; [2009] NSWLEC 1 Garrett v Williams (2006) 160 LGERA 115; [2006] NSWLEC 785 Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Fish; Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Orogen Pty Ltd (2010) 179 LGERA 386; [2010] NSWLEC 144 Gregg v The Queen [2020] NSWCCA 245 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 King v The Queen (2012) 245 CLR 588; [2012] HCA 24 La Fontaine v The Queen (1976) 136 CLR 62; [1976] HCA 52 Nydam v R [1977] VR 430 Pemble v R (1971) 124 CLR 107; [1971] HCA 20 Plath v Vaccount Pty Ltd t/as Tableland Timbers [2011] NSWLEC 202 R v Bateman [1925] All ER Rep 45; (1925) 19 Cr App R 8 R v Crabbe (1985) 156 CLR 464; [1985] HCA 22 R v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566; [2006] NSWCCA 242 R v Moore (2015) 91 NSWLR 276; [2015] NSWCCA 316 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Taktak (1988) 14 NSWLR 226 R v Thompson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Energy Limited; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Upstream Infrastructure Investments Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 2 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Sydney Water Corporation (Defendant) Representation: COUNSEL: G Wright (Prosecutor) I Hemmings SC and S Hall (Defendant)