Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (No 7) [2021] NSWLEC 26

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (No 7) [2021] NSWLEC 26 Hearing dates: 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12 June, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 August and 22 October 2020 Date of orders: 26 March 2021 Decision date: 26 March 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [670]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: offender convicted of three charges of unlawfully carrying out bulk earthworks contrary to the conditions of a project approval and one charge of commencing works without a construction certificate – determination and composition of appropriate sentences – sentencing principles – extent of environmental harm caused by the commission of the offences – weight to be applied to partial expert witness – state of mind of offender at the time of the commission of the offences – De Simoni principle – objective seriousness of the commission of the offences low to moderate – defendant had a prior conviction for an environmental offence – whether defendant able to express contrition and remorse in the absence of guilty pleas – specific and general deterrence warranted – comparable cases – whether the defendant ought to pay the prosecutor's costs – whether the Court ought to order that the charges be dismissed – whether the Court ought to convict the defendant but impose no penalty – application of the totality principle – whether the Court ought to make a publication order – defendant convicted and fined in respect of all four offences – publication order made. Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, s 73 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 3A(b), 10, 10A, 10(1), 10(1)(a),10(3)(c), 10(3)(d), 10(3), 21A(2)(g), 21A(3)(a), 21A(3)(e), 21A(3)(f), 21A(3)(i), 21A(3)(m), 21A(4), Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 247F, 257B, 257G Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 75D, 75J, 75O, 75P, 76A(1), 76D(2), 81A(4), 81(4)(a), 119J, 125(1), 125, 125A(1)(a)(b), 125(a), 125B, 126, 126(2A) Fines Act 1966, s 6 Interpretation Act 1987, s 21 Land and Environment Court Rules 2007, r 5.2(1) National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, s 156A Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, s 250(1)(a) Supreme Court Rules 1970, Pt 75 r 3J Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, Sch 7 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Barbaro v The Queen; Zirilla v The Queen [2014] HCA 2; (2014) 253 CLR 58 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Bikhit v The Queen [2007] NSWCCA 202 Blue Mountains City Council v Carlon [2008] NSWLEC 296 Burwood Council v Erector Group Pty Ltd; Burwood Council v Liverpool Developing Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 20 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 Chen v R [2018] NSWCCA 106; (2018) 97 NSWLR 915 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Turnbull [2014] NSWLEC 150 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Ausgrid [2013] NSWLEC 51; (2013) 199 LGERA 1 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114; (2019) 242 LGERA 241 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kyluck Pty Limited (No 4) [2014] NSWLEC 74; (2014) 212 LGERA 1 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Leda Management Services Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 111 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery [2012] NSWLEC 271; (2012) 192 LGERA 314 Chin v Ryde City Council [2004] NSWCCA 167; (2004) 133 LGERA 312 Director-General Department of Planning & Infrastructure v Integra Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 255; (2012) 192 LGERA 281 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Environment Protection Authority v Attard [2000] NSWCCA 242 Environment Protection Authority v Baida Poultry Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 280; (2008) 163 LGERA 71 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 289; (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales (Office of Environment and Heritage) [2019] NSWLEC 66 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 178 Environment Protection Authority v Edward Gilder [2018] NSWLEC 119 Environment Protection Authority v GrainCorp Operations Limited [2019] NSWLEC 143 Environment Protection Authority v Koppers Carbon Materials & Chemicals Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 12 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 Ravensworth Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2020] NSWLEC 153 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; (2019) 239 LGERA 31 Erector Group Pty Ltd v Burwood Council; Liverpool Developing Pty Ltd v Burwood Council [2018] NSWCCA 56; (2018) 232 LGERA 304 Filipowski v Fratelli D'Amato Srl [2000] NSWLEC 50; (2000) 108 LGERA 88 Filipowski v Hemina Holdings SA; Filipowski v Rajagopalan (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 104 Gerondal v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2009] NSWLEC 160 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Fish [2010] NSWLEC 144; (2010) 179 LGERA 386 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84; (2014) 86 NSWLR 422 Hawkesbury City Council v Johnson; Hawkesbury City Council v Johnson Property Group Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 138 Hawkesbury City Council v Johnson; Hawkesbury City Council v Johnson Property Group Pty Limited (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 6; (2009) 210 LGERA 34 Heatscape Pty Ltd v Mahoney (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 45; (2016) 217 LGERA 332 Hili v R; Jones v R [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 242 CLR 520 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Hoffenberg v The District Court of New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 142 Holroyd City Council v Khoury (No 3) [2011] NSWLEC 210 Hornsby Shire Council v Henlong Property Group Pty Ltd (No 2) [2019] NSWLEC 17 Hunter Water Board v State Rail Authority of New South Wales (No 2) (1992) 75 LGRA 22 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 78 ALJR 616 Jones v R [2010] HCA 45 Lake Macquarie City Council v Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 92 Lavorato v The Queen [2012] NSWCCA 61; (2012) 82 NSWLR 568 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Matheson v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2008] NSWSC 550; (2008) 185 A Crim R 83 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR Minister for Planning v Coalpac Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 271 Minister for Planning v Hunter Quarries Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 246 Minister for Planning v Moolarben Coal Mines Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 147; (2010) 175 LGERA 93 Mosman Municipal Council v Menai Excavations Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 132; 122 LGERA 89 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 Parramatta City Council v Cheng [2010] NSWLEC 94 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; (1998) 194 CLR 610 Pesic v Sutherland Shire Council [2019] NSWLEC 38 Pham v R [2015] HCA 39; (2015) 256 CLR 550 Pittwater Council v Scahill [2009] NSWLEC 12; (2009) 165 LGERA 289 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 Plath v Vaccount Pty t/as Tableland Timbers [2011] NSWLEC 202 R v Baugh [1999] NSWCCA 131 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Harris [2007] NSWCCA 130; (2007) 171 A Crim R 267 R v MAK; R v MSK [2006] NSWCCA 381; (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 R v Paris [2001] NSWCCA 83 R v Piccin (No 2) [2001] NSWCCA 323 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Toohey [2019] NSWCCA 182 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 R v Wheeler [2000] NSWCCA 34 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Upstream Infrastructure Investments Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 2 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Boggabri Coal Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 154 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Charbon Coal Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 106 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 114 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (No 4) [2019] NSWLEC 58 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (No 6) [2020] NSWLEC 68 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (No 5) [2020] NSWLEC 65 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Greentree; Harris (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 126 Sydney South West Area Health Service v Stamoulis [2009] NSWCA 153 Terrey v Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water [2011] NSWLEC 141 The Queen v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 Thorneloe v Filipowski [2001] NSWCCA 213; (2001) 52 NSWLR 60 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Walden v Hensler [1987] HCA 54; (1987) 163 CLR 561 Water NSW v Barlow [2019] NSWLEC 30; (2019) 244 LGERA 1 Category: Sentence Parties: Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment (Prosecutor) Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Single SC with A Garsia (Prosecutor) A Galasso SC with B Anniwell (Defendant)