Environmental Protection Authority v Bald Hill Quarry Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 114

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environmental Protection Authority v Bald Hill Quarry Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 114 Date of orders: 31 October 2024 Decision date: 31 October 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [209]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: breach of licence – failure to deal with material in a proper and efficient manner causing air pollution – failure to notify relevant authorities immediately after becoming aware of pollution incident – negligent disposal of waste in a manner that harmed or was likely to harm the environment – pleas of guilty – factors to take into account in determining sentence – state of mind of offender at the time of the commission of the offences – whether environmental harm – potential environmental harm – whether harm foreseeable – whether offender took practical measures to reduce harm – whether offender had control over commission of the offences – whether offender demonstrated contrition and remorse – whether offender is of good character and unlikely to reoffend – whether offences committed for financial gain – comparable cases – application of totality principle – monetary penalty imposed – moiety ordered – publication order made – costs ordered. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996, s 122 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 6, 64, 115, 119, 126, 132, 147, 148, 149, 152, 241, 250, cl 49 of Sch 1 Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2021, cl 140 Work Health and Safety (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Act 2013, s 5 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 Budvalt Pty Ltd v Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator [2022] NSWCCA 9; (2022) 251 LGERA 28 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 DH v R [2022] NSWCCA 200 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Ashmore [2014] NSWLEC 136 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 BMG Environmental Group Pty Ltd & Barnes [2012] NSWLEC 69; (2012) 188 LGERA 324 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Cleanaway Equipment Services Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 40 Environment Protection Authority v Dial-A-Dump (EC) Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 21 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 64 Environment Protection Authority v Elf Farm Supplies Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 60 Environment Protection Authority v Environmental Treatment Solutions Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 160 Environment Protection Authority v Forbes Shire Council [2014] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2009] NSWLEC 181 Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Mackenzie (No 4) [2021] NSWLEC 123 Environment Protection Authority v GrainCorp Operations Limited [2019] NSWLEC 143 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2018] NSWLEC 80; (2018) 235 LGERA Environment Protection Authority v Hardman Chemicals Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 8 Environment Protection Authority v Hawkesbury City Council [2017] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Ammonium Nitrate Solution Spill Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 109 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Evaporator Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 104 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Jackhammer Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 105 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103; (2014) 206 LGERA 239 Environment Protection Authority v Pal [2009] NSWLEC 35 Environment Protection Authority v Ridley AgriProducts Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 119 Environment Protection Authority v Routledge [2024] NSWLEC 8 Environment Protection Authority v S J Perry [2004] NSWLEC 715; (2004) 135 LGERA 431 Environment Protection Authority v Sam Abbas (also known as Osama Abbas) [2021] NSWLEC 57 Environment Protection Authority v Warkworth Mining Limited [2017] NSWLEC 107; (2017) 227 LGERA 145 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Wattke; Environment Protection Authority v Geerdink [2010] NSWLEC 24 Environment Protection Authority v Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited [2019] NSWLEC 27; (2019) 239 LGERA 31 Environment Protection Authority v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Limited & Davis [2019] NSWCCA 312 Environment Protection Authority v Yolarno Pty Limited [2004] NSWLEC 764 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 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Jindalee Road Wines Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 26 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Lidokew Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 59 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Tony Thompson [2022] NSWLEC 48 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 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 Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Sydney Water Corporation; Environment Protection Authority v Signium Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 126; (2018) 239 LGERA 1 Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd v Snowy Monaro Regional Council [2021] NSWCCA 24 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) Bald Hill Quarry Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: H El-Hage SC (Prosecutor) C Ireland (Defendant)