Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2024] NSWLEC 91

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2024] NSWLEC 91 Hearing dates: 21 August 2024 Date of orders: 27 August 2024 Decision date: 27 August 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [165]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: failure to comply with court order to remediate land by removing waste from premises – plea of guilty – factors to take into account in determining sentence – whether environmental harm – actual and potential environmental harm –presence of asbestos in the environment – whether harm foreseeable – whether offender could have taken practical measures to reduce harm – whether offender had control over commission of offence – whether offender demonstrated contrition and remorse – whether offender is of good character and unlikely to reoffend – capacity to pay – comparable cases – monetary penalty imposed – moiety order – publication order – costs. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, s 257G Fines Act 1996, ss 6, 122 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, ss 205, 206 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 91B, 144, 143, 241, 245, 250, 251 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 Cessnock City Council v Quintaz Pty Limited; Cessnock City Council v McCudden [2010] NSWLEC 3; (2010) 172 LGERA 52 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Fish (No 2) [2014] NSWLEC 67; (2014) 202 LGERA 188 DH v R [2022] NSWCCA 200 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 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 Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Limited [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Eveston (No 3) [2022] NSWLEC 128 Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Mackenzie [2019] NSWCCA 174; (2019) 101 NSWLR 245 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2018] NSWLEC 80; (2018) 235 LGERA 114 Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108 Environment Protection Authority v Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 33 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Unomedical Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 131 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Limited & Davis [2019] NSWCCA 312 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 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] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Walden v Hensler [1987] HCA 54; (1987) 163 CLR 561 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Thomas Hughes (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: B Kaplan with V Barros Goncalves (Prosecutor) J Doyle (Defendant)