Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Khouzame [2024] NSWLEC 54

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Khouzame [2024] NSWLEC 54 Hearing dates: 10 May 2024 Date of orders: 22 May 2024 Decision date: 22 May 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court: (1) convicts the defendant of the offence against s 60N of the Local Land Services Act 2013 (NSW) as charged; (2) fines the defendant $135,000; (3) orders the defendant to pay the prosecutor's costs in the amount as may be determined under s 257G of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW); and (4) directs that 50% of the fine in Order 2 be paid to the prosecutor. Catchwords: OFFENCES AND PENALTIES – Sentence – clearing of native vegetation in rural area without approval – objective seriousness of offence – clearing premediated and planned – negligent in first tranche of clearing and reckless in second tranche of clearing – failure to comply with Development Control Order, Stop Work Order and Remediation Order – substantial environmental harm caused – foreseeable risk of environmental harm – practical measures to prevent risk of harm – full control over cause of offence – medium objective seriousness near lower end of mid-range of seriousness – subjective circumstances – no prior convictions – prior good character – unlikely to reoffend – limited remorse demonstrated – early guilty plea – Local Court's jurisdictional limit for a fine disproportionate to objective seriousness of offence committed – limited financial information on means to pay disclosed – fine and costs order. Legislation Cited: Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), ss 1.5, 1.6, 11.3, Pt 8 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 10, 21A, 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 257B, 257G Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Local Land Services Act 2013 (NSW), ss 3, 60C, 60D, 60E, 60G, 60H, 60N, 60D, 60I, 60O, 60Q, 60S, 60ZE, 60ZF, 60ZF, 60ZW, 60ZZA, Sch 5A, Div 4 Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW), s 6 Cases Cited: Application by the Attorney General under Section 37 of the Criminal (Sentencing Procedure) Act for a Guideline Judgment Concerning the Offence of High Range Prescribed Concentration of Alcohol under Section 9(4) of the Road Transport Act 1999 (No. 3 of 2002) (2004) 61 NSWLR 305; [2004] NSWCCA 303 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Turnbull (2017) 227 LGERA 290; [2017] NSWLEC 140 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell (2019) 242 LGERA 241; [2019] NSWLEC 114 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Powell [2012] NSWLEC 129 Congregational Christian Church Samoa Parish Sydney v Georges River Council [2017] NSWLEC 71 David Morse v Chan [2010] NSWSC 1290 Director General, 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) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna (2018) 235 LGERA 114; [2018] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Taylor [No 4] (2002) 120 LGERA 414; [2002] NSWLEC 59 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 EPA v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Harris v Harrison (2014) 86 NSWLR 422; [2014] NSWCCA 84 Kapua v R [2023] NSWCCA 14 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 R v Campbell [2014] NSWCCA 102 R v Thomson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 The Queen v Linc Energy Ltd (in Liquidation) (District Court (Qld), 11 May 2018, unrep) Zreika v The Queen (2012) 223 A Crim R 460; [2012] NSWCCA 44 Category: Sentence Parties: Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment (Prosecutor) Chaza Khouzame (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Matthew McAuliffe (Prosecutor)