Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2022] NSWLEC 70

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2022] NSWLEC 70 Hearing dates: 5 and 6 April 2022 Date of orders: 09 June 2022 Decision date: 09 June 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [212] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES — Sentence — Conducting forestry activities in exclusion zones contrary to conditions of biodiversity conservation licence — Determination of objective seriousness — Statutory scheme undermined by offences — Extent of harm to environment — De Simoni principle — Substantial harm — Practical measures available to prevent, control, abate or mitigate harm — Control over causes where conduct by contractors – No evidence that offences committed intentionally or for any reason — "Rolled-up" koala offence in medium range of objective seriousness — Rainforest and warm temperate rainforest offences in low to moderate range of objective seriousness — Determination of subjective circumstances — Record of prior convictions — Pleas of guilty – Assistance to authorities — Good character and low likelihood of similar reoffending — Need for general and specific deterrence — Consistency in sentencing — Publication orders made — Costs as agreed — Unable to make order for payment to Biodiversity Conservation Fund — Determination of appropriate penalties — Principle of totality applied — Order for moiety made — Defendant convicted and fined of four offences Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), ss 1.3, 2.1, 2.4, 2.10, 2.14, 12.22, 12.8, 13.12, 13.25 Biodiversity Conservation (Savings and Transitional) Regulation 2017 (NSW), cl 4(1) Civil Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), Pt 3, Div 1, ss 3A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 257B Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Fines Act 1996 (NSW), s 122 Forestry Act 2012 (NSW), Pt 5B, ss 5, 10, 69L, Sch 3, cl 10 Forestry and National Park Estate Act 1998 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), s 250 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: AB v R [2013] NSWCCA 273 Axer v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Budvalt Pty Ltd v Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator [2022] NSWCCA 9 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chemaissem v R [2021] NSWCCA 66 Chief Environmental Regulator of the Environment Protection Authority v The Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2017] NSWLEC 132 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114; (2019) 242 LGERA 241 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Clarence Valley Council [2018] NSWLEC 205; (2018) 236 LGERA 291 Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [2011] NSWLEC 102 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 289; (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [1998] NSWLEC 149 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [2004] NSWLEC 751 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [2013] NSWLEC 101 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 220; (2012) 192 LGERA 415 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 17 Environment Protection Authority v Tea Garden Farms Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Harris v Harrison (2014) 86 NSWLR 422; [2014] NSWCCA 84 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Johnston v R [2017] NSWCCA 53 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 R v DP [2019] NSWCCA 55 R v Hraichie (No 3) [2019] NSWSC 973 R v Kilic (2016) 259 CLR 256; [2016] HCA 48 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Taysavang v R; Lee v R [2017] NSWCCA 146 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Water NSW v Barlow [2019] NSWLEC 30; (2019) 244 LGERA 1 Texts Cited: Forestry Corporation, Standard Operating Procedure: Exclusion Zone Boundary Management – SOP 2N, (September 2017) Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Forestry Corporation of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: G Wright SC with C Brain (Prosecutor) I J Hemmings SC with J McKelvey (Defendant)