Environment Protection Authority v Central Coast Council [2024] NSWLEC 141

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Central Coast Council [2024] NSWLEC 141 Hearing dates: 18, 19 November 2024 Date of orders: 20 December 2024 Decision date: 20 December 2024 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See below in [110]. Catchwords: CRIMINAL – sentencing for breach of condition of environment protection licence – early guilty plea – failure to maintain rising main in proper and efficient manner – relevance of financial crisis of amalgamated council and appointment of administrator to objective seriousness of offence considered – extent of environmental harm – application of s 10, s 10A of Criminal (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 not appropriate – mitigating circumstances considered – order for restoration project made – penalty imposed – publication order made CRIMINAL – sentencing for water pollution offence arising from operation of sewerage system – early guilty plea Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 10, 10A, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 257B Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), ss 220, 355, 438I, 438M, 731 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 3, 64, 116, 120, 122, 169, 241, 244, 248, 250, 251, Sch 6 Cases Cited: Application by Attorney General (No 3 of 2002) (2004) 61 NSWLR 305; [2004] NSWCCA 303 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bartter Enterprises Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2022] NSWCCA 43 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 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Boyle [2019] NSWLEC 54 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kyluk Pty Ltd (No 4) (2014) 212 LGERA 1; [2014] NSWLEC 74 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Charlotte Pass Snow Resort Pty Ltd (No 3) [2022] NSWLEC 136 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 66 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2019] NSWLEC 178 Environment Protection Authority v Forbes Shire Council [2014] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Hawkesbury City Council [2017] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation (No 2) [2023] NSWLEC 2 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2015] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2020] NSWLEC 153 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 4 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2021] NSWLEC 17 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2023] NSWLEC 68 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2024] NSWLEC 130 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189; [2006] NSWLEC 242 Hili v R; Jones v R (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hoare v R (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Hoffenberg v District Court of New South Wales [2010] NSWCA 142 Johnson v R (2004) 78 ALJR 616; [2004] HCA 15 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Muldrock v R (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 R v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 R v Nguyen [2002] NSWCCA 183 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Paris [2001] NSWCCA 83 R v Ruha (2010) 198 A Crim R 430; [2010] QCA 10 R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300; [2002] NSWCCA 142 R v Storey [1998] 1 VR 359 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCA 309 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Boggabri Coal Pty Ltd [2014] NSWLEC 154 Veen v R (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v R (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Texts Cited: Judicial Commission of New South Wales Sentencing Bench Book (SBB 60, November 24) Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Central Coast Council (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Brown (Prosecutor) M Fraser (Defendant)