Water NSW v Kiangatha Holdings Pty Limited; Water NSW v Natale [2023] NSWLEC 142

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Water NSW v Kiangatha Holdings Pty Limited; Water NSW v Natale [2023] NSWLEC 142 Hearing dates: 4 October 2023 Date of orders: 15 December 2023 Decision date: 15 December 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pritchard J Decision: The Court orders: (1) The defendants' notices of motion filed 25 July 2023 in proceedings 2018/295909 and 2018/295911 are dismissed. (2) No order as to costs. (3) The proceedings are listed for directions before the list judge on Friday, 2 February 2024. Catchwords: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – preliminary hearing pursuant to s 247G of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) – separate question – charges against s 120(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) – whether the Court should hear and determine the separate questions – whether summonses allege offences known to law – whether the summonses ought be dismissed – meaning of "waters" – meaning of "water pollution" or "pollution of waters" – whether the separate questions are questions of fact Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) ss 56, 57 Clean Waters Act 1970 (NSW) ss 5, 16 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 11, 12, 16, 247B, 247G Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 68(1) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 120, dictionary Cases Cited: Ballina Shire Council v Joblin [2022] NSWLEC 90 Burke v Hawkesbury City Council [2001] NSWLEC 222 Doja v R [2009] NSWCCA 303 Environment Protection Authority v Eastern Creek Operations Pty Ltd (No 2) [2021] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Genkem Pty Ltd (1993) 79 LGERA 47 Environmental and Earth Sciences Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1999) 103 LGERA 434 GPI (General) Pty Ltd v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2011] NSWCA 157 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2010) 239 CLR 531; [2010] HCA 1 Lismore City Council v Ihalainen (2013) 198 LGERA 47; [2013] NSWLEC 149 Liverpool City Council v Cauchi [2005] NSWLEC 675 Lodhi v Regina [2005] NSWCCA 121 Majury v Sunbeam Corporation Ltd [1974] 1 NSWLR 659 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council v Waite [2019] NSWLEC 146 Rockdale Beef Pty Limited v Industrial Relations Commission of NSW [2007] NSWCA 128 Liverpool City Council v Cauchi [2005] NSWLEC 676 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Water NSW (Prosecutor) Kiangatha Holdings Pty Limited (ABN 12 129 497 856) (Defendant) Laurence Natale (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Wright SC with Z Shahnawaz (Prosecutor) B Collins KC (Defendants)