Environment Protection Authority v Charlotte Pass Snow Resort Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 37

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Charlotte Pass Snow Resort Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 37 Hearing dates: 16, 18 and 22 (further written submissions) December 2020 Date of orders: 23 April 2021 Decision date: 23 April 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [154]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: defendant charged with pollute waters offence and breach of licence offence in separate summonses – whether summonses should be set aside on the grounds of duplicity – alternatively whether the prosecutor should be required to elect to seek leave to amend the summonses to avoid the duplicity – applicable legal principles – whether the activity the subject of the offences constitutes a continuing offence – whether the activity the subject of the offences constitutes a single criminal enterprise – proper construction of condition O2.1(a) of licence – whether a duty imposed upon licensee to ensure compliance with condition O2.1(a) – whether person who contravened condition of licence clearly identified in the breach licence offence summons – pollute waters offence duplicitous – breach of licence offence not duplicitous – breach of licence offence known to law – breach of licence offence not time barred. Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912, s 5AE Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 43(d), 55, 63, 64(1), 120(1), 122(1)(b), 216(1)(b) Cases Cited: Attorney General (NSW) v Built NSW Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCCA 299; (2013) 239 IR 102 Brownlie v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 27 NSWLR 78 Director of Public Prosecutions v Merriman [1973] AC 584 Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2000] NSWCCA 367; (2000) 50 NSWLR 127 Environment Protection Authority v Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd (No 3) [2020] NSWLEC 114 Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v MacKenzie [2019] NSWCCA 174; (2019) 238 LGERA 147 Environment Protection Authority v Riverina Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCCA 165; (2015) 90 NSWLR 57 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation Ltd (1997) 98 LGERA 361 Environment Protection Authority v Truegain Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCCA 204; (2013) 85 NSWLR 125 Hakim v Waterways Authority (NSW) [2006] NSWCCA 376; (2006) 149 LGERA 415 Hamzy v R (1994) 74 A Crim R 341 Hannes v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (No 2) [2006] NSWCCA 373; (2006) 165 A Crim R 151 Hedberg v Wodhal [1913] HCA 2; (1913) 15 CLR 531 Johnson v Miller [1937] HCA 77; (1937) 59 CLR 467 Kiangatha Holdings Pty Ltd v Water NSW [2020] NSWCCA 263 S v R [1989] HCA 66; (1989) 168 CLR 266 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCCA 202; (2018) 362 ALR 359 Walsh v Tattersall [1996] HCA 26; (1996) 188 CLR 77 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Charlotte Pass Snow Resort Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Rose (Prosecutor) T Brennan SC with E Steer (Defendant) Solicitors: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Norton White (Defendant) File Number(s): 2020/200270 and 2020/200271