Natural Resources Access Regulator v Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 135

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Natural Resources Access Regulator v Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 135 Hearing dates: 16-19 August 2021; 6, 20 September 2021 (written submissions) Date of orders: 24 November 2021 Decision date: 24 November 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See [303] of judgment Catchwords: CRIMINAL – sentencing – plea of guilty to offence of taking water without a water access licence – clean water collected at coal mine site and not discharged to creek downstream – likely environmental harm to several kilometres of creek downstream of coal mine – no aggravating circumstance – mitigating factors considered – limit on prosecutor's costs ordered to be paid – penalty imposed – publication order made Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 247E, 257B Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), s 122B (former), s 9.39 Fisheries Management Act 1994 (NSW), Sch 4 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 11 Water Management (General) Regulation 2011 (NSW) (repealed), cl 18 Water Management (General) Regulation 2018 (NSW), cl 21 Water Management Act 2000 (NSW), ss 3, 4A, 5, 56, 60, 60A, 60C, 60I, 71T, 71V, 336E, 353G, 364A, Dictionary Water Sharing Plan for Namoi and Peel Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012, cll 4, 9, 10 Cases Cited: Avopiling Pty Ltd v Bosevski (2018) 98 NSWLR 171; [2018] NSWCA 146 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Turnbull [2017] NSWLEC 141 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Parrish and Son Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 47 Council of the City of Sydney v Trico Constructions Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 56 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Director-general, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Dodds Family Investments Pty Ltd (formerly Solar Tint Pty Ltd) v Lane Industries Pty Ltd (1993) 26 IPR 261; [1993] FCA 346 Environment Protection Authority v Custom Chemicals Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 146 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna (2018) 235 LGERA 114; [2018] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Sam Abbas (also known as Osama Abbas) [2021] NSWLEC 57 Environment Protection Authority v Truegain Pty Ltd (No 4) (2014) 206 LGERA 11; [2014] NSWLEC 179 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) (2009) 164 LGERA 287; [2009] NSWLEC 1 Garrett v Williams (2006) 160 LGERA 115; [2006] NSWLEC 785 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v O'Haire [2020] NSWLEC 158 Harris v Harrison (2014) 86 NSWLR 422; [2014] NSWCCA 84 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 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Morrison v Defence Maritime Services (2007) 156 LGERA 365; [2007] NSWLEC 552 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Nash v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd; Attorney General for New South Wales v Silver City Drilling (NSW) Pty Ltd (2017) 93 NSWLR 338; [2017] NSWCCA 96 New Galaxy Investments Pty Ltd v Thomson (No 2) [2017] NSWCA 235 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd (No 3) [2005] NSWLEC 423 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Ryan v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 267; [2001] HCA 21 Stephen James Orr v Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd; Stephen James Orr v Narrabri Coal Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 85 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Texts Cited: Chessman, "What's wrong with the Australian River Assessment System (AUSRIVAS)?", (2021) 72 Marine and Freshwater Research 1110 NSW Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, Prosecution Guidelines (March 2021) Category: Sentence Parties: Natural Resources Access Regulator (Prosecutor) Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R White and Z Shahnawaz (Prosecutor) D Hume (Defendant)