Georges River Council v SAF Developments Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 50

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Georges River Council v SAF Developments Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 50 Hearing dates: 6 March 2023 Date of orders: 10 May 2023 Decision date: 10 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [147]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: carrying out development contrary to consent – unlawful transportation or depositing of waste – pleas of guilty – sentencing principles – extent of environmental harm – state of mind during the commission of the offences – whether state of mind of project manager could be attributed to company – totality principle applied – comparable cases – fine imposed – publication order made. Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 1.3, 3, 4.2, 9.53 Fines Act 1996, ss 6, 122 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 115, 143, 144, 144AA, 241, 250 Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001, s 3 Cases Cited: Aland B & W Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2023] NSWLEC 13 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Bourke v R [2010] NSWCCA 22; (2010) 199 A Crim R 38 Burwood Council v Abdul Rahman [2021] NSWLEC 46 Burwood Council v Abdul-Rahman (No 2) [2017] NSWLEC 177 Burwood Council v Doueihi [2013] NSWLEC 196; (2013) 200 LGERA 152 Burwood Council v Pratelli [2014] NSWLEC 28 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 Carlino v Leichardt Municipal Council [2005] NSWLEC 198 Chahoud v Penrith City Council [2020] NSWLEC 167 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 and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114; (2019) 242 LGERA 241 Cowra Shire Council v Fuller [2015] NSWLEC 13 Croaker v R [2008] NSWCCA 232; (2008) 190 A Crim R 15 Cumberland Council v Habib [2017] NSWLEC 18 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 Alcobell; Campbell [2015] NSWLEC 123 Environment Protection Authority v Ashmore [2014] NSWLEC 136 Environment Protection Authority v Aussie Earthmovers Pty Ltd (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 98 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 Co Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales (Office of Environment and Heritage) [2019] NSWLEC 66 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 178 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108 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 Pannowitz; Steepleton Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 175 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 Limited [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2020] NSWLEC 153 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 4 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 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 Great Lakes Council v Spalding [2011] NSWLEC 257 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84 Hijazi v Georges River Council [2020] NSWLEC 36 Hills Shire Council v Suciu (No 3) [2009] NSWLEC 192 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Johnson v The Queen [2004] HCA 15; (2004) 78 ALJR 616 Ku-ring-gai Council v Baynie [2017] NSWLEC 172 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Pesic v Sutherland Shire Council [2019] NSWLEC 38 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council v David Peter Waite (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 60 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council v Waite (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 60 R v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v MAK; R v K [2006] NSWCCA 381; 167 A Crim R 159 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 at 177 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 The Hills Shire Council v Kinnarney Civil & Earthworks Pty Ltd & Kinnarney (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 95 The Hills Shire Council v Suciu (No 3) [2009] NSWLEC 194 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 Category: Sentence Parties: Georges River Council (Prosecutor) SAF Developments Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Seymour with R Coffey (Prosecutor) L Sims (Defendant) Solicitors: Makinson d'Apice Lawyers (Prosecutor) Wilshire Webb Staunton Beattie (Defendant) File Number(s): 2021/244133 2021/244135 Publication restriction: Nil