Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer Natural Resources Access Regulator v Lidokew Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 53

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer Natural Resources Access Regulator v Lidokew Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 53 Hearing dates: 12 April 2021 Date of orders: 31 May 2021 Decision date: 31 May 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [136]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: defendant charged with water offences in four separate summonses – whether summonses bad for duplicity – whether it is duplicitous to plead two alternative offences in the one summons – whether it is duplicitous to plead alternative formulations of liability within the one summons – whether offending conduct comprises a single criminal enterprise – whether offences not known to law – whether summonses amenable to amendment – applicable legal principles – one summons bad for duplicity. Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912, s 5AE Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 15(2), 16(1)(g), 17, 20, 21, 23(3), 257C Land and Environment Court Act 1979, ss 21(ga), 68(1) Land and Environment Court Rules 2007, r 5.2(2)(e) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, s 120 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005, Pt 19 Water Management Act 2000, ss 21, 60C(1), 60C(1)(b), 60C(2), 71T, 71V, 85, 91H(2), 91I(2), 91L(1), 364(1)(b) Water Management (General) Regulation 2018, cl 17(3) Water Sharing Plan for the Upper and Lower Namoi Groundwater Sources 2003, cl 34 Cases Cited: Area Concrete Pumping Pty Ltd v Inspector Barry Childs (WorkCover) [2012] NSWCA 208; (2012) 223 IR 86 Attorney General (NSW) v Built NSW Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCCA 299; (2013) 239 IR 102 Boujaoude v The Queen [2008] NSWCCA 35; (2008) 72 NSWLR 85 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Manchee [2015] NSWLEC 117; (2015) 209 LGERA 280 Doja v The Queen [2009] NSWCCA 303; (2009) 198 A Crim R 349 Environment Protection Authority v Charlotte Pass Snow Resort Pty Ltd (No 2) [2021] NSWLEC 48 Environment Protection Authority v Newcastle Port Corporation [2020] NSWLEC 6 Environment Protection Authority v Riverina Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCCA 165; (2015) 90 NSWLR 57 Environment Protection Authority v Truegain Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCCA 204; (2013) 85 NSWLR 125 Hannes v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (No 2) [2006] NSWCCA 373; (2006) 205 FLR 217 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 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; (1998) 194 CLR 610 Plaintiff M47/2012 v Director-General of Security [2012] HCA 46; (2012) 251 CLR 1 R v Bellman [1989] AC 836 R v Cramp [1999] NSWCCA 324; (1999) 110 A Crim R 198 R v Thomson; R v Dann [2002] NSWCCA 400; (2002) 134 A Crim R 252 Rajendran v R [2010] NSWCCA 322; (2010) 206 A Crim R 316 Regina v Kaldor [2004] NSWCCA 425; (2004) 150 A Crim R 271 Rockdale Beef Pty Limited v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW [2007] NSWCA 128; (2007) 165 IR 7 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 Tonari v R [2013] NSWCCA 232; (2013) 237 A Crim R 490 Walsh v Tattersall [1996] HCA 26; (1996) 188 CLR 77 WorkCover Authority (NSW) (Inspector Singh) v ABB Australia Pty Ltd [2006] NSWIRComm 68; (2006) 151 IR 90 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer Natural Resources Access Regulator (Prosecutor) Lidokew Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: H El-Hage and A Brown (Prosecutor) C Ireland (Defendant)