Environment Protection Authority v Nath [2024] NSWLEC 10

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Nath [2024] NSWLEC 10 Hearing dates: 5 February 2024 Date of orders: 16 February 2024 Decision date: 16 February 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [145]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: breach of licence – failure to remove waste in contravention of an environmental protection licence – failure to store waste in contravention of an environmental protection licence – pleas of guilty – factors to take into account in determining sentence – whether offender committed offences recklessly – whether environmental harm – potential environmental harm – whether harm foreseeable – whether offender could take practical measures to reduce harm – whether offender had control over commission of offences – whether offender demonstrated contrition and remorse – whether offender is of good character and unlikely to reoffend – whether offences committed for financial gain – whether offences committed without regard for public safety – whether offender has capacity to pay fine – comparable cases – application of totality principle – monetary penalty imposed – moiety order – publication order – costs ordered. Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 ss 215(1), 257B, 257G and 267(3) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 17, 21A(2), 21A(3), 22 and 23 Fines Act 1996 ss 6 and 122 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 ss 3, 64(1), 45, 169(1), 241(1), 241(2) and 250(1) Cases Cited: ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2024] NSWCCA 4 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Albiston [2020] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 280; (2008) 163 LGERA 71 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 Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd (No 4) [2021] NSWLEC 45 Environment Protection Authority v BSV Tyre Recycling Australia Pty Ltd (Local Court proceedings numbers 2021/00245615, 2021/00245642, 2021/00245655, 2021/00245660, 2021/00245665, 2021/00245683, 2021/00245685, 2021/00245700, 2021/00245714, 2021/00245722, 2021/00245731) Environment Protection Authority v BSV Tyre Recycling Australia Pty Ltd (Local Court proceedings number 2021/0096161-2) Environment Protection Authority v Carbon MF Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Fair [2023] NSWLEC 120 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Eveston (No 3) [2022] NSWLEC 128 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2018] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v MA Roche Group Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 29 Environment Protection Authority v Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 33 Environment Protection Authority v Minto Recycling Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 193 Environment Protection Authority v Obaid [2005] NSWLEC 171 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 10; (2014) 206 LGERA 239 Environment Protection Authority v Richardson; Environment Protection Authority v Behnfeld [2002] NSWLEC 205 Environment Protection Authority v Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 119 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Ltd & Davis [2019] NSWCCA 312 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Johnson v The Queen (2004) 78 ALJR 616; [2004] HCA Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mill v The Queen [1988] HCA 70; (1988) 166 CLR 59 Mun v R [2015] NSWCCA 234 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Tony Thompson [2022] NSWLEC 48 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; (1998) 194 CLR 610 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Nguyen [2004] NSWCCA 438 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 R v Stafrace (1997) 96 A Crim R 452 R v Sutton [2004] NSWCCA 225 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 The Queen v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Walden v Hensler [1987] HCA 54; (1987) 163 CLR 561 Water NSW v Barlow [2019] NSWLEC 30; (2019) 244 LGERA 1 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Virendra Nath (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: P Zivkovic (Prosecutor) L Sims (Defendant)