Environment Protection Authority v O’Brien [2025] NSWLEC 14

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v O'Brien [2025] NSWLEC 14 Hearing dates: 29 July 2024 Date of orders: 28 February 2025 Decision date: 28 February 2025 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [85] Catchwords: SENTENCE — Three offences against s 144AA(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) — Objective seriousness of the offences — Offences caused potential environmental harm — Subjective circumstances — Totality principle applies — Fines imposed — Offender ordered to pay prosecutor's costs as agreed or assessed — Offender ordered to publish notices Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996 (NSW), ss 6, 122 Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 3, 96, 144AA(1), 241, 250 Cases Cited: ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2024] NSWCCA 4; (2024) 260 LGERA 358 Axer Pty Ltd v Environmental Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bankstown City Council v Hanna [2014] NSWLEC 152; (2014) 205 LGERA 39 Baumer v R (1988) 166 CLR 51; [1988] HCA 67 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 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 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 291 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Elias v R; Issa v R (2013) 248 CLR 483; [2013] HCA 31 Environment Protection Authority v Aargus Pty Ltd; Kariotoglou; Kelly [2013] NSWLEC 19 Environment Protection Authority v ACE Demolition & Excavation Pty (No 2) [2023] NSWLEC 3 Environment Protection Authority v Afram [2022] NSWLEC 38; (2022) 252 LGERA 153 Environment Protection Authority v Ashmore [2014] NSWLEC 136 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Crown in the Right of New South Wales (Office of Environment and Heritage) [2019] NSWLEC 66 Environment Protection Authority v Ditchfield Contracting Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 90 Environment Protection Authority v Elmustapha [2023] NSWLEC 143 Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn Group Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2023] NSWLEC 127 Environment Protection Authority v Laison [2018] NSWLEC 76 Environment Protection Authority v O'Brien [2023] NSWLEC 118 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Wollondilly Abattoirs Pty Limited & Davis [2019] NSWCCA 312 Gore v R; Hunter v R [2010] NSWCCA 330; (2010) 208 A Crim R 353 Grant Barnes, Chief Regulatory Officer, Natural Resources Access Regulator v Robert Beltrame [2023] NSWLEC 18 Hoare v R (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Mill v R (1988) 166 CLR 59; [1998] HCA 70 Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165; (2013) 199 LGERA 28 Muldrock v R (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Natural Resources Access Regulator v Bao Lin Pty Ltd [2022] NSWLEC 42 Pearce v R (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Allpass (1993) 72 A Crim R 561 R v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v DP [2019] NSWCCA 55 R v Kilic (2016) 259 CLR 256; [2016] HCA 48 R v McGourty [2002] NSWCCA 335 R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 R v Scott [2005] NSWCCA 152 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 R v Wheeler [2000] NSWCCA 34 R v Whyte (2002) 55 NSWLR 252 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 Veen v R (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Williams v R [2012] NSWCCA 172 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Adam O'Brien (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Higgins (Prosecutor) R A Coffey (Defendant)