Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2000] NSWLEC 156

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2000] NSWLEC 156 PROSECUTOR Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT: Sydney Water Corporation FILE NUMBER(S) : 50077 of 1999 CORAM: Lloyd J KEY ISSUES: Environmental Offences :- water pollution - serious sewage overflow into sensitive waterway - reactive maintenance strategy amounts to a failure to fulfil legal obligation to prevent pollution - worsening environmental record at the same time as increasing dividends - lack of contrition - guilty plea - penalty Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 22 LEGISLATION CITED: Clean Waters Act 1970 s 16(1), s 17 Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1989 s 9 Axer Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority CCA, 22 November 1993, unreported; Environment Protection Authority v Bega Shire Council, Sheahan J, NSWLEC, 14 August 1998, unreported; CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Lake Macquarie City Council [1999] NSWLEC 4; Environment Protection Authority v Orange City Council, Stein J, NSWLEC, 23 June 1995, unreported; Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2000] NSWLEC 80; Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation (1999) 102 LGERA 232 DATES OF HEARING: 8/05/00, 9/05/00 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 07/21/2000

PROSECUTOR: C J Leggat (Barrister) SOLICITORS: S Garret LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES: DEFENDANT: B J Preston SC SOLICITORS: Anderson Legal