Environment Protection Authority v Calleija; Environment Protection Authority v Budget Waste Recycling Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 119

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Calleija; Environment Protection Authority v Budget Waste Recycling Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 119 Hearing dates: 16 and 17 April 2024, further submissions 19 and 22 April 2024 Date of orders: 13 November 2024 Decision date: 13 November 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pritchard J Decision: The Court makes the following orders: In proceedings 164057 of 2023: (1) The defendant, Budget Waste Recycling Pty Limited, is convicted of the continuing offence against section 97 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) as charged. (2) Budget Waste Recycling Pty Limited is to pay a fine in the amount of $234,000. In proceedings 164049 of 2023: (3) The defendant, Mr Michael Calleija, is convicted of the continuing offence against section 169A of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) as charged. (4) Mr Michael Calleija is to pay a fine in the amount of $25,000. In proceedings 324738 of 2023: (5) The defendant, Mr Michael Calleija, is convicted of the continuing offence against section 97 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) as charged. (6) Mr Michael Calleija is to pay a fine in the amount of $75,000. In proceedings 164049 of 2023, 164057 of 2023, and 324738 of 2023: (7) Pursuant to s 122 of the Fines Act 1996 (NSW), a moiety of 50 percent of any fine determined by the Court be paid to the prosecutor. (8) Pursuant to s 248 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), the defendants to pay $3,100.00 to the Environment Protection Authority for its costs and expenses reasonably incurred during its investigation of the offences. (9) Pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), the defendants to pay the legal costs of the Environment Protection Authority as agreed or as may be determined under s 257G of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW). (10) Pursuant to s 250(1)(b) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), the defendants, at their expense: (a) within 60 days of the date of these orders, cause a notice at a minimum size of 139mm x 129mm to be published within the first 12 pages of the Sydney Morning Herald with the text of such notice and the Budget Waste Recycling Pty Limited (ACN 112 980 293) logo (of reasonable size) as set out in Annexure A to these orders; and (b) within 60 days of the date of these orders, cause a notice at a minimum size of a quarter of a page to be published within the first 12 pages of Inside Waste with the text of such notice and the Budget Waste Recycling Pty Limited (ACN 112 980 293) logo (of reasonable size) as set out in Annexure A to these orders. (11) Within seven days of the date of publication of the notices referred to in order 10, the defendants to provide the prosecutor with a complete copy of the notices published pursuant to that order. Catchwords: EVIDENCE — relevance — probative value — danger of unfair prejudice — Latent duplicity objections — objections to purported expert report — compliance with the Expert Witness Code of Conduct — whether there is lack of impartiality SENTENCING — environmental offences — s 97 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — guilty plea — failure to comply with a prevention notice — waste — real risk of environmental harm — objectively very serious — good character — remorse — publication order — moiety SENTENCING — environmental offences — s 169A of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — executive liability offence — guilty plea — objectively serious — good character — remorse — publication order — moiety — totality SENTENCING — environmental offences — s 97 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — real risk of environmental harm —objectively very serious — good character — remorse — publication order — moiety — totality Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 257B, 257G Environment Legislation Amendment Act 2022 No 3 (NSW) Sch 5 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 4, 55, 56, 78 Fines Act 1996 (NSW) s 6, 122 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) (as in force between 25 May 2022 and 24 January 2023) ss 3, 6, 55, 88, 95, 96, 96A, 97, 99, 169A, 191, 211, 215, 241, 242, 248, 250, 289, 319A, Dictionary Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) s 215 Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2014 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Sch 7 Cases Cited: ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2024] NSWCCA 4 Axer Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 B v R (2008) 76 NSWLR 533; (2008) 208 A Crim R 441; [2008] NSWCCA 85 Bankstown City Council v Hanna (2014) 205 LGERA 39; [2014] NSWLEC 152 Barbaro v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 58; [2014] HCA 2 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2005) 139 LGERA 449; [2005] NSWCCA 157 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; (1993) 82 LGERA 21 Cessnock City Council v Quintaz Pty Limited; Cessnock City Council v McCudden (2010) 172 LGERA 52; [2010] NSWLEC 3 Elias v The Queen (2013) 248 CLR 483; [2013] HCA 31 Environment Protection Authority v Albiston [2020] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd (2008) 163 LGERA 71; [2008] NSWLEC 280 Environment Protection Authority v Bathurst City Council (1995) 89 LGERA 79 Environment Protection Authority v Carbon MF Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Fair [2023] NSWLEC 120 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 178 Environment Protection Authority v Crush and Haul Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Cauchi [2022] NSWLEC 113 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 Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2022] NSWLEC 70 Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108 Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2024] NSWLEC 91 Environment Protection Authority v Laison [2015] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Nath [2024] NSWLEC 10 Environment Protection Authority v Sam Abbas (also known as Osama Abbas) [2021] NSWLEC 57 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd (2008) 162 LGERA 273; [2008] NSWLEC 264 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2023] NSWLEC 68 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Environment Protection Authority v Zoya Investments Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 149 Fairfield City Council v Oztech Developments Pty Ltd; Fairfield City Council v Bellagio Investments Pty Ltd [2021] NSWLEC 81 Garrett v Williams (2006) 160 LGERA 115; [2006] NSWLEC 785 GAS v The Queen (2004) 217 CLR 198; [2004] HCA 22 Georges River Council v SAF Developments Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 50 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189; [2006] NSWLEC 242 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Henry Payson Pty Ltd [2023] NSWLEC 5 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Budvalt Pty Ltd; Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Harris [2020] NSWLEC 113 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Salvestro [2023] NSWLEC 423 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Robert Beltrame [2023] NSWLEC 18 Hardt v Environment Protection Authority (2007) 156 LGERA 337; [2007] NSWCCA 338 Harris v Harrison (2014) 86 NSWLR 422; (2014) 201 LGERA 277; [2014] NSWCCA 84 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Johnson v Miller (1937) 59 CLR 467; [1937] HCA 77 Lake Macquarie City Council v Australian Native Landscapes Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 92 Leach v The Queen (2007) 230 CLR 1; [2007] HCA 3 Lozanovski v R [2006] NSWCCA 143 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 229 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Maxwell v The Queen (1996) 184 CLR 501; [1996] HCA 46 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Phillips v The Queen (2006) 225 CLR 303; [2006] HCA 4 Pittwater Council v AI Professional Tree Recycling Pty Ltd (2008) 165 LGERA 1; [2008] NSWLEC 325 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v AEM [2002] NSWCCA 58 R v Agius; R v Abibadra; R v Jandagi; R v Zerafa (2011) 251 FLR 375; [2011] NSWSC 367 R v Bourchas (2002) 133 A Crim R 413; [2002] NSWCCA 373 R v Carroll (2008) 188 A Crim R 253; [2008] NSWCCA 218 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566; (2006) 163 A Crim R 381; [2006] NSWCCA 242 R v O'Neill [1979] 2 NSWLR 582 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Sinanovic [2000] NSWCCA 394 R v Tadrosse (2005) 65 NSWLR 740; [2005] NSWCCA 145 R v Thomson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; (2000) 115 A Crim R 104; [2000] NSWCCA 294 R v Wheeler [2015] SASCFC 83 RLS v R [2012] NSWCCA 236 Ryan v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 267; [2001] HCA 21 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Boggabri Coal Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 154 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Sell & Parker Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 48 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Sell & Parker Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 60 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Auen Grain Pty Ltd; Merrywinebone Pty Ltd; Greentree; Harris (No 2) [2020] NSWLEC 126 Smith v The Queen [2007] NSWCCA 138 Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd (2018) 362 ALR 359; [2018] NSWCCA 202 Strbak v The Queen (2020) 267 CLR 494; [2020] HCA 10 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Transport for New South Wales v Estuary Constructions Pty Ltd; Transport for New South Wales v Sampson [2022] NSWLEC 23 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Walsh v Tattersall (1996) 188 CLR 77; [1996] HCA 26 Water NSW v Barlow (2019) 244 LGERA 1; [2019] NSWLEC 30 Williams v R (2012) 203 A Crim R 172; [2012] NSWCCA 172 Zreika v R [2012] A Crim R 460; [2012] NSWCCA 44 Category: Sentence Parties: In proceedings 2023/324738 and 2023/164049: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Michael Joseph Calleija (Defendant) In proceedings 2023/164057: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Budget Waste Recycling Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M McAuliffe (Prosecutor) A Galasso SC and Z Shahnawaz (Defendants) Solicitors: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Pikes & Verekers Lawyers (Defendants) File Number(s): 2023/324738; 2023/164049; 2023/164057 Publication restriction: Nil