Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Greentree; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Harris (No 7) [2022] NSWLEC 153

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Greentree; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Harris (No 7) [2022] NSWLEC 153 Hearing dates: 24 – 27 August, 1 – 4 September 2020, 7 – 11 June and 9 July 2021 Date of orders: 23 December 2022 Decision date: 23 December 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [489] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING – Offences – Prosecutions – Six events of clearing native vegetation in contravention of s 12 of the Native Vegetation Act 2003 – Two events of clearing native vegetation in contravention of s 60N of the Local Land Services Act 2013 – 32 summons – Trial – Whether "clearing" – Whether "native vegetation" – Whether each defendant responsible for the clearing – Consideration of statutory defences – Mr Greentree and Auen Grain Pty Ltd found guilty – Proceedings listed to obtain sentence hearing date – Mr Harris and Merrywinebone Pty Ltd found not guilty – Summons stood over for entry of final orders Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), Pt 13, Div 1, ss 1.6, 12.8, 13.29, 13.31, 14.4 Biosecurity Act 2015 (NSW), ss 7, 11, 15, 386 Land Management (Native Vegetation Code) 2017 Land Management (Native Vegetation Code) 2018 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) Local Land Services Act 2013 (NSW), Pts 5A, 5B, Sch 5A, Divs 4, 5, 6, ss 60A, 60B, 60C, 60D, 60G, 60I, 60N, 60Q, 60S, 60ZM Local Land Services Regulation 2014 (NSW), cl 106 Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW), ss 12, 44 Native Vegetation Regulation 2013 (NSW), Pt 6, cll 3, 25, 26, 27, 38, 62 Noxious Weeds Act 1993 (NSW), ss 4, 7 Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW), s 100C Cases Cited: Alphacell Ltd v Woodward [1972] AC 824 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kennedy [2012] NSWLEC 159 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery [2012] NSWLEC 271; (2012) 192 LGERA 314 Department of Environment and Climate Change v Olmwood Pty Limited [2010] NSWLEC 15; (2010) 173 LGERA 366 Director-General of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Walker Corporation Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 229 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Jack and Bill Issa Pty Ltd (No 5) [2009] NSWLEC 232; (2009) 172 LGERA 225 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 73 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Greentree; Harris [2019] NSWLEC 187 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Greentree; Harris (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 126 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Greentree; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Harris (No 3) [2020] NSWLEC 129 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Greentree; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Harris (No 4) [2020] NSWLEC 130 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Greentree; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Harris (No 5) [2021] NSWLEC 6 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v Director General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (2012) 82 NSWLR 12; [2012] NSWCCA 210 Texts Cited: Australian Soil and Land Survey Field Handbook (3rd ed, 2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: In proceedings 2019/00265264; 2019/00265268; 2019/00265272; 2019/00265276; 2019/00265280; 2019/00265284; 2019/00265288; 2019/00265292 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (Prosecutor) Auen Grain Pty Ltd ACN 101 059 769 (Defendant)