Natural Resources Access Regulator v Kimber; Natural Resources Access Regulator v Kimber [2023] NSWLEC 101

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Natural Resources Access Regulator v Kimber; Natural Resources Access Regulator v Kimber [2023] NSWLEC 101 Hearing dates: 28, 29 August 2023 Date of orders: 29 September 2023 Decision date: 29 September 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: The Court orders that: (1) The charge in proceeding 2022/346166 against the defendant Mr Kenneth Kimber be dismissed pursuant to s 10(1)(a) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 without proceeding to conviction. (2) The charge in proceeding 2022/346177 against the defendant Mr Kenneth Kimber be dismissed pursuant to s 10(1)(a) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 without proceeding to conviction. (3) The charge in proceedings 2022/346025 against the defendant Mr Luke Kimber be dismissed pursuant to s 10(1)(a) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 without proceeding to conviction. (4) The charge in proceedings 2022/346036 against the defendant Mr Luke Kimber be dismissed pursuant to s 10(1)(a) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 without proceeding to conviction. (5) The defendants Mr Kenneth Kimber and Mr Luke Kimber to pay the Natural Resources Access Regulator's costs in proceedings 2022/346166, 2022/346177, 2022/346025 and 2022/346036 as agreed or assessed excluding any costs in relation to the evidence of Mr McDermott and Dr Brookes. (6) The exhibits to be returned. Catchwords: SENTENCING – plea of guilty to contravention of term of access licence – very low objective seriousness – no moral culpability - no actual or likely environmental harm – no impact on another person's rights – application of s 10(1) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) considered SENTENCING – plea of guilty to taking water contrary to term of access licence – very low objective seriousness – no moral culpability - no actual or likely environmental harm – no impact on another person's rights – application of s 10(1) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) considered Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 10, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 257B Water Management Act 2000 (NSW), ss 3, 5, 60B, 66, 363B, 364, 364A Water Sharing Plan for the Murrumbidgee Unregulated and Alluvial Water Sources 2012 (NSW), cll 56, 81 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resource Access Regulator v Henry Payson Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 5 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v Zoya Investments Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 149 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Fish; Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Orogen Pty Ltd (2010) 179 LGERA 386; [2010] NSWLEC 144 R v Mauger [2012] NSWCCA 51 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Paris [2001] NSWCCA 83 R v Storey (1998) 1 VR 359 Thorneloe v Filipowski (2001) 52 NSWLR 60; [2001] NSWCCA 213 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Walden v Hensler (1987) 163 CLR 561; [1987] HCA 54 Water NSW v Peter James Harris and Jane Maree Harris [2023] NSWLEC 33 Texts Cited: Judicial Commission of NSW Sentencing Bench Book (Update 55, August 2023) Macquarie Dictionary, online ed, September 2023 Category: Sentence Parties: In proceedings 2022/346025 and 2022/346036: Natural Resources Access Regulator (Prosecutor) Luke Kimber (Defendant)