Environment Protection Authority v Park Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 120

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Park Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 120 Hearing dates: 18 and 19 June 2024 Date of orders: 15 November 2024 Decision date: 15 November 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Duggan J Decision: See orders at [205]-[208] Catchwords: CRIME – environmental offences – vicarious liability – offences under ss 120(1) and 142A(1) of the Protection of the Environmental Operations Act 1997 (NSW) – prohibition of pollution of water and land – diesel spill – applicable sentencing principles – ss 3A, 21A and 22 of Crimes (Sentencing and Procedure Act 1999 (NSW) – objective seriousness of offence – aggravated by nature and seriousness of the harm to environment – strict liability – cause of spill – subjective circumstances of offender – early guilty plea – specific and general deterrence – consistency in sentencing – appropriate sentence – totality principle Legislation Cited: Crime Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing and Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2008 (NSW) Fines Act 1996 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) Protection of Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2021 (NSW) 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) 145 LGERA 234 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Environment Agency (formerly National Rivers Authority) v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1998] UKHL 5 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd (2008) 163 LGERA 71 Environment Protection Authority v Routledge [2024] NSWLEC 8 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2020] NSWLEC 153 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 4 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Erector Group Pty Ltd v Burwood Council; Liverpool Developing Pty Ltd v Burwood Council [2018] NSWCCA 56 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (2012) 82 NSWLR 12 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Park Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: R Ranken and G Westgarth (Prosecutor) R O'Gorman-Hughes and L Sims (Defendant)