Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kurstjens Onroerend Goed AU B.V.; Kurstjens; Beefwood 1 Pty Ltd; Beefwood 2 Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 140

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kurstjens Onroerend Goed AU B.V.; Kurstjens; Beefwood 1 Pty Ltd; Beefwood 2 Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 140 Hearing dates: 18 and 21 June 2024 Date of orders: 20 December 2024 Decision date: 20 December 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [162] Catchwords: SENTENCE — Environmental offences — Offences under s 12(1) of the Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW) — Clearing of native vegetation without consent — Substantial harm caused for land converted to cropland — Clearing of the remainder area of land caused low harm — Foreseeable risk of environmental harm — Offences committed for financial gain — State of mind in committing offences reckless and negligent — Objective seriousness near the mid to low range of seriousness — Subjective circumstances of the defendants — Previous good character — No remorse demonstrated — Guilty pleas — Need for both specific and general deterrence — Determination of appropriate penalties — Fines imposed with moiety to prosecutor — Orders as to costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 257B Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW), ss 3, 6, 7, 12, 22, 45 Native Vegetation Regulation 2013 (NSW), cl 38 Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW), s 6 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2024] NSWCCA 4; (2024) 260 LGERA 358 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Grant Wesley Turnbull [2017] NSWLEC 141 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Kurstjens; Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Topview Brisbane Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 54 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Turnbull [2023] NSWLEC 137 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Turnbull [2014] NSWLEC 150 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Anthony Guy Murphy [2019] NSWLEC 120 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Boyle [2019] NSWLEC 54 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Brummell [2019] NSWLEC 114; (2019) 242 LGERA 241 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Clarence Valley Council [2018] NSWLEC 205; (2018) 236 LGERA 253 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kennedy [2012] NSWLEC 159 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Leda Management Services Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 111 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Parrish & Son Pty Ltd [2020] NSWLEC 47 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery [2012] NSWLEC 271; (2012) 192 LGERA 314 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Traikaero Pty Ltd; Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Woods [2019] NSWLEC 90 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 119 Elias v The Queen; Issa v The Queen (2013) 248 CLR 483; [2013] HCA 31 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Gammasonics Institute for Medical Research Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 190 Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn Group Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2023] NSWLEC 127 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Robert Beltrame [2023] NSWLEC 18 Kyluk Pty Ltd v Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage [2013] NSWCCA 114; (2013) 298 ALR 532 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Bao Lin Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 42 Office of Environment and Heritage v Swansbel (Pastoral) Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 69 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102; (2009) 195 A Crim R 1 R v DP [2019] NSWCCA 55 R v Kilic (2016) 259 CLR 256; [2016] HCA 48 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 Secretary, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment v Ronald Lewis Greentree and Auen Grain Pty Ltd [2024] NSWLEC 131 Stephen Garrett v Dennis Charles Williams [2006] NSWLEC 785; (2006) 160 LGERA 115 Turnbull v Chief Executive of the Office of Environment & Heritage [2018] NSWCCA 229 Category: Sentence Parties: In proceedings 2019/00195296; 2019/00195383: Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Kurstjens Onroerend Goed AU B.V. (ACN 621 329 299) (Defendant)