Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Henry Payson Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 5

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Henry Payson Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 5 Hearing dates: 24, 25, 26 and 27 May and 10, 15 and 16 June 2022 Date of orders: 31 January 2023 Decision date: 31 January 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [319]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: taking of water without a properly operating water meter – construction and use of a water supply work without a water supply work approval – plea of guilty – factors to take into account in determining sentence – whether environmental harm – actual and substantial harm to the regulatory scheme – whether offences committed knowingly and to what extent – whether offences committed recklessly – whether offender in control of the causes of the offences – whether offences committed for financial gain – contrition and remorse demonstrated to a limited extent – totality principle applied – comparable cases – whether an order pursuant to s 353B(c) of the Water Management Act 2000 appropriate – monetary penalty imposed – publication order – costs ordered Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A(b), 21A(2), 21A(3), 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996, ss 6, 122 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, s 144AB(2) Water Management Act 2000, ss 60A(4), 91B(1), 91I(1)(b), 91E(1), 91I(2), 336C(1), 345(2), 353B(c), 353E(1), 353G(1)(a), 364, 364A Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991, s 6(2) Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Turnbull [2014] NSWLEC 150 Chief Executive Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery [2012] NSWLEC 271; (2012) 192 LGERA 314 Chief Executive, Office of Environment & Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Boyle [2019] NSWLEC 54 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114; (2019) 242 LGERA 241 Darter v Diden [2006] SASC 152; (2006) 94 SASR 505 De Silva v The Queen [2019] HCA 48; (2019) 268 CLR 57 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194; (2010) 79 NSWLR 1 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Elias v The Queen [2013] HCA 31; (2013) 248 CLR 483 Environment Protection Authority v Albiston [2020] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 289; (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 64 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2018] NSWLEC 80; (2018) 235 LGERA 114 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environmental Protection Authority v Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd (No 4) [2021] NSWLEC 45 Fahs v R (2007) NSWCCA 26 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Budvalt Pty Ltd; Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Harris [2020] NSWLEC 113 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84; (2014) 86 NSWLR 422 Harrison v Harris [2013] NSWLEC 105 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Hewitt v R (2007) 180 A Crim R 306 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 78 ALJR 616 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Bao Lin Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 42 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 135 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Tony Thompson [2022] NSWLEC 48 NCR Australia v Credit Connection [2005] NSWSC 1118 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; (1998) 194 CLR 610 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 Plath v Vaccount Pty Ltd t/as Tableland Timbers [2011] NSWLEC 202 R v AB [2011] NSWCCA 229; (2011) 59 MVR 356 R v Doan [2000] NSWCCA 317; (2000) 50 NSWLR 115 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Gent [2005] NSWCCA 370; (2005) 162 A Crim R 29 R v Harris [2007] NSWCCA 130; (2007) 171 A Crim R 267 R v Martin [2021] NSWCCA 316 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 R v Tadrosse [2005] NSWCCA 145; (2005) 65 NSWLR 740 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Todd [1982] 2 NSWLR 517 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 R v Wheeler [2000] NSWCCA 34 R v Yildez [2006] NSWCCA 97; (2006) 160 A Crim R 218 R v Zeilaa [2009] NSWSC 532 RL v R [2015] NSWCCA 106 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Sell & Parker Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 60 Smith v The Queen (1991) 25 NSWLR 1 Tazelear v R [2009] NSWCCA 119 The Hills Shire Council v Kinnamey Civil & Earthworks Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 45; (2012) 188 LGERA 273 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Walden v Hensler [1987] HCA 54; (1987) 163 CLR 561 Weininger v The Queen [2003] HCA 14; (2003) 212 CLR 629 Williams v R [2010] NSWCCA 15 Category: Sentence Parties: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer Natural Resources Access Regulator (Prosecutor) Henry Payson Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: T Howard SC with M McAuliffe (Prosecutor) C O'Neill (Defendant)