Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2023] NSWLEC 68

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2023] NSWLEC 68 Hearing dates: 11 May 2023 Date of orders: 05 July 2023 Decision date: 05 July 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pritchard J Decision: Orders as set out at [196] Catchwords: SENTENCING – environmental offences – s 120(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) – guilty plea – pollution of waters – mid-range of objective seriousness – large volume of sewage overflow – harm caused to the environment – subjective circumstances – prior convictions for environmental offences – good character – likelihood of reoffending – even-handedness in sentencing – appropriate penalty – publication order. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3, 3A, 21A, 22(1) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) s 257G Environmental Trust Act 1988 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) ss 6, 122 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 3, 116, 120, 123, 241, 250(1)(e) Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; (1993) 82 LGERA 21 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 243 FLR 28; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Elias v The Queen (2013) 248 CLR 483; [2013] HCA 31 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd (2008) 163 LGERA 71; [2008] NSWLEC 280 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council (2006) 148 LGERA 278; [2006] NSWLEC 289 Director General of National Parks and Wildlife v Wilkinson [2002] NSWLEC 171 Environment Protection Authority v Capdate Pty Ltd (1993) 78 LGERA 349 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 178 Environmental Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Forbes Shire Council [2014] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Corporation of NSW [2022] NSWLEC 75 Environment Protection Authority v Hawkesbury City Council [2017] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) (2012) 192 LGERA 415; [2012] NSWLEC 220 Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Limited [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd (2008) 162 LGERA 273; [2008] NSWLEC 264 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [1998] NSWLEC 144 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2000] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2000] NSWLEC 156 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2015] NSWLEC 80 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 Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 17 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water (No 2) [2023] NSWLEC 2 Environment Protection Authority v University of Sydney [2022] NSWLEC 41 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Environment Protection Authority v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Ltd & Davis [2019] NSWCCA 312 Fairfield City Council v Oztech Developments Pty Ltd; Fairfield City Council v Bellagio Investments Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 81 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189; [2006] NSWLEC 242 Garrett v Williams (2006) 160 LGERA 115; [2006] NSWLEC 785 Harris v Harrison (2014) 86 NSWLR 422; [2014] NSWCCA 84 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1988] HCA 70 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 R v Kilic (2016) 259 CLR 256; [2016] HCA 48 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566; [2006] NSWCCA 242 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Van Ryn [2016] NSWCCA 1 Ryan v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 267; [2001] HCA 21 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Water NSW v Barlow (2019) 244 LGERA; [2019] NSWLEC 30 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Sydney Water Corporation (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: C Leggat SC with F Berglund (Prosecutor) S Hall SC and J Caldwell (Defendant) Solicitors: Litigation Branch, Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Clayton Utz (Defendant) File Number(s): 2021/302715; 2021/302716; 2021/302718 Publication restriction: Nil