Environment Protection Authority v Cleanaway Equipment Services Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 40

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Cleanaway Equipment Services Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 40 Hearing dates: 8 March 2022 Date of orders: 14 April 2022 Decision date: 14 April 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See [125] Catchwords: SENTENCING – plea of guilty to charge of water pollution resulting from spill of industrial solvent into stormwater system and Molonglo River due to valve failure – no aggravating factors – actual environmental harm caused – medium level of objective seriousness – mitigating factors – early guilty plea – contrition SENTENCING – plea of guilty to charge of water pollution from spill of industrial solvent into stormwater and Molonglo River – second spill occurred after attempted clean-up of original spill – no aggravating factors – actual environmental harm caused – medium level of objective seriousness – mitigating factors – early guilty plea – contrition SENTENCING – plea of guilty to charge of failing to immediately notify water pollution incident – notification of EPA within four hours of becoming aware that spill of industrial solvent had entered stormwater system – low level of objective seriousness – no aggravating factors – early plea of guilty Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996 (NSW), s 122 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 3, 120, 123, 148, 152, 241, 248, 250, Dictionary Protection of the Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2011 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations (Underground Petroleum Storage Systems) Regulation 2014 (NSW) Cases Cited: Axer Pty td v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Environment Protection Authority v Ardent Leisure Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 36 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd (2008) 163 LGERA 71; [2008] NSWLEC 280 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Boral Australia Gypsum Limited [2009] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited (2014) 200 LGERA 235; [2014] NSWLEC 5 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Limited [2007] NSWLEC 647 Environment Protection Authority v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 211 Environment Protection Authority v Elf Farm Supplies Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 60 Environment Protection Authority v Forbes Shire Council [2014] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna (2018) 235 LGERA 114; [2018] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) (2012) 225 A Crim R 113; [2012] NSWLEC 220 Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Sam Abbas (also known as Osama Abbas) [2021] NSWLEC 57 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2020] NSWLEC 153 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 17 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 4 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Environment Protection Authority v Wattke; Environment Protection Authority v Geerdink [2010] NSWLEC 24 Environment Protection Authority v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Ltd & Davis [2019] NSWCCA 312 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) (2009) 164 LGERA 287; [2009] NSWLEC 1 Garrett v Williams (2006) 160 LGERA 115; [2006] NSWLEC 785 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 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Thomson and Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Wollongong Recycling (NSW) Pty Ltd (2020) 245 LGERA 241; [2020] NSWLEC 125 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Cleanaway Equipment Services Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: E Muston SC with G Westgarth (Prosecutor) S Callan SC with S Love (Defendant)