Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Commins [2023] NSWLEC 43

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Commins [2023] NSWLEC 43 Hearing dates: 6 February 2023 Date of orders: 18 April 2023 Decision date: 18 April 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [157]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCE: sentence – taking water contrary to a water approval – principles to be applied – offence inadvertently committed – harm occasioned by commission of the offence – whether offence could have been prosecuted in the Local Court – whether parity principle applies – fine – moiety – publication order – whether defendant ought to be named in notice – costs. Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 247E, 247F, 257B, 257G Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21, 21A, 22 Fines Act 1996, ss 6, 122 Water Management Act 2000, ss 3, 5, 49A, 60A, 60C, 91G, 91I, 324, 336E, 353G, 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 Burwood Council v Jally Development Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 543 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 and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114 Chief Executive, Office of Environmental and Heritage v Clarence Valley Council [2018] NSWLEC 205 Chief Executive, Office of Environment & Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Elias v The Queen [2013] HCA 31; (2013) 248 CLR 483 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 Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 211 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 178 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales (Office of Environment and Heritage) [2019] NSWLEC 66 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v Minto Recycling Pty Limited [2019] NSWLEC 193 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 65 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 220 Environment Protection Authority v Rands [2019] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 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 Beltrame [2023] NSWLEC 18 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Budvalt Pty Ltd; Harris [2020] NSWLEC 113 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 135 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Office, Natural Resources Access Regulator v O'Haire [2020] NSWLEC 158 Grant Barnes, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Hogan and Hogan (unreported, Griffith Local Court, 4 February 2022) Grant Barnes, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Schwager (unreported, Naarrabri Local Court, 26 November 2021) Green v The Queen [2011] HCA 49; (2011) 244 CLR 462 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 604 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Thompson [2022] NSWLEC 48 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 Palmer v R [2005] NSWCCA 349 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 Postiglione v The Queen (1996) 189 CLR 295; [1997] HCA 26 R v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v MAJW [2007] NSWCCA 145 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 at 177 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 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 WaterNSW v Peter James Harris and Jane Maree Harris [2023] NSWLEC 33 Category: Sentence Parties: Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator (Prosecutor) Timothy Mitchell Commins (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P English (Prosecutor) K Averre (Defendant)