Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd (No 4) [2022] NSWLEC 32

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd (No 4) [2022] NSWLEC 32 Hearing dates: 18 and 19 October 2021 Date of orders: 1 April 2022 Decision date: 01 April 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Moore J Decision: See orders at [251] and [252] Catchwords: SENTENCE - Defendant pleads guilty to charge of breach condition of development consent - condition imposed limited daily production capacity on mobile asphalt plant - Defendant deliberately understated production rate in development application - understatement avoided necessity for environmental impact statement - understatement avoided necessity for increased environmental scrutiny of the proposed development - harm to integrity of the planning system - deliberate breach a first aggravating factor - breach part of organised criminal enterprise - second aggravating factor - breach committed for financial gain - third aggravating factor - Defendant with limited positive subjective factors - no contrition or remorse - no previous convictions - maximum penalty for offence $1,100,000 - offending conduct above the middle of the middle range of seriousness - fine of $600,000 appropriate indicative sentence - discount for guilty plea - plea not at the earliest opportunity - discount of 10% for guilty plea - fine of $540,000 appropriate SENTENCE - Defendant pleads guilty to charge of breach condition of development consent - condition of development consent limited the number of truck movements on any one day - harm to integrity of the planning system - deliberate breach an aggravating factor - breach committed for financial gain - breach part of organised criminal enterprise - second aggravating factor - breach committed for financial gain - third aggravating factor - Defendant with limited positive subjective factors - no contrition or remorse - no previous convictions - maximum penalty for offence $1,100,000 - offending conduct in the middle of the low range of seriousness - no previous convictions - maximum penalty $1,100,000 - appropriate starting penalty $120,000 - discount for guilty plea - guilty plea not at the earliest opportunity- discount of 10% for guilty plea - fine of $98,000 appropriate TOTALITY AND ACCUMULATION - both offences arise out of same development consent - breaches arise from satisfying single asphalt supply contract - appropriate to moderate total penalty - fine for less egregious offence moderated to $60,000 - total penalty imposed of $600,000 Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B and 257G Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Cases Cited: Bay State Construction Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council [2020] NSWLEC 86 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Caralis v Smyth (1988) 65 LGRA 303 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Ausgrid (2013) 199 LGERA 1; [2013] NSWLEC 51 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Bombala Investments Pty Ltd (2013) 199 LGERA 236; [2013] NSWLEC 185 Chief Executive Office of Environment and Heritage v Somerville (No 2) [2021] NSWLEC 78 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 197 A Crim R 31; (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes (2006) NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2014] NSWLEC 114 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 158 Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25 Environment Protection Authority v Unomedical Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 131 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189; [2006] NSWLEC 242 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 LN v R [2020] NSWCCA 131 Markarian v R (2005) 229 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Minister for Planning v Coalpac Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 271 Minister for Planning v Hunter Quarries Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 246 Pittwater Council v Scahill (2009) 165 LGERA 289; [2009] NSWLEC 12 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v O'Neill (1979) 2 NSWLR 582 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 383 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Boggabri Coal Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 154 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (No 7) [2021] NSWLEC 26 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 109 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCCA 202 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 182 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2020] NSWCCA 74 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 136 Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd v Snowy Monaro Regional Council [2021] NSWCCA 24 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Walden v Hensler (1987) 163 CLR 561; [1987] HCA 54 Category: Sentence Parties: Snowy Monaro Regional Council (Prosecutor) Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr C Ireland, barrister (Prosecutor) Mr T Hale SC/Mr D Robertson, barrister (Defendant)