WaterNSW v Peter James Harris and Jane Maree Harris [2023] NSWLEC 33

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: WaterNSW v Peter James Harris and Jane Maree Harris [2023] NSWLEC 33 Hearing dates: 14 November 2022 Date of orders: 28 March 2023 Decision date: 28 March 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [166] Catchwords: SENTENCING — environmental offence — offences under s 91G(2) of the Water Management Act 2000 (NSW) — water taken in breach of approval condition — low range of objective seriousness — defendants pleaded not guilty — control over the cause of the offence — subjective circumstances of the defendants — need for both specific and general deterrence — determination of appropriate penalties — fines imposed with moiety to prosecutor — publication order made — orders as to costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), Pt 3, Div 1, ss 3, 3A, 10, 17, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Water Management Act 2000 (NSW), ss 3, 91G, 338A, 353G, 363A, 363B, 364A 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 Budvalt Pty Ltd v Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator [2022] NSWCCA 9 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, 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 Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114; (2019) 242 LGERA 241 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Clarence Valley Council [2018] NSWLEC 205 Edwards v The Queen [2021] NSWCCA 57 Elias v The Queen; Issa v The Queen (2013) 248 CLR 483; [2013] HCA 31 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 178 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v MA Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Holley [2009] NSWLEC 124 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Fish; Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Orogen Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 144; (2010) 179 LGERA 386 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Henry Payson Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 5 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 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Robert Beltrame [2023] NSWLEC 18 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Keys v West (2006) 65 NSWLR 668; [2006] NSWSC 136 Kinney v Green (1992) 29 NSWLR 137 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Maxwell v The Queen (1996) 184 CLR 501; [1996] HCA 46 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Tony Thompson [2022] NSWLEC 48 Ostrowski v Palmer (2004) 218 CLR 493; [2004] HCA 30 Peter James Harris and Jane Maree Harris v WaterNSW [2021] NSWCCA 184 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v DP [2019] NSWCCA 55 R v Kilic (2016) 259 CLR 256; [2016] HCA 48 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Re Stubbs (1947) 47 SR (NSW) 329 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Leda Manorstead Pty Ltd (No 7) [2021] NSWLEC 26 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Wollongong Recycling (NSW) Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 125 Water NSW v Barlow [2019] NSWLEC 30; (2019) 244 LGERA 1 WaterNSW v Harris (No 3) [2020] NSWLEC 18 Category: Sentence Parties: In proceedings 2018/00073936 WaterNSW (Prosecutor) Peter James Harris (Defendant)