Environment Protection Authority v Shell Co of Australia Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 132

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Shell Co of Australia Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 132 PROSECUTOR: Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT: Shell Company of Australia Ltd (The) FILE NUMBER(S) : 50071 of 1997 CORAM: Bignold J KEY ISSUES: Environmental Offences :- Negligently cause substance to leak in a manner likely to harm the Environment. Hydrocarbon contamination of Service Station site. Circumstantial evidence case—whether there is a reasonable doubt that Defendant did not commit offence. LEGISLATION CITED: Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1989 s 6(1) Burnie Port Authority v Gerard Jones Pty Ltd (1994) 179 CLR 520; Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd v National Rivers Authority (1998) 1 AllER 471; Environment Protection Authority v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd (2000) NSWLEC 6; Ghazal v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1992) 29 NSWLR 336; CASES CITED: Ghazal v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1992) 29 NSWLR 336 at 343; Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298; Kondis v State Transport Authority (1984) 154 CLR 672; New South Wales Sugar Milling Co-Operative Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1992) 75LGRA 320; Northern Sandblasting Pty Ltd v Harris (1997) 188 CLR 313· Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 at 578 DATES OF HEARING: 18/11/99-30/11/99, 1/12/99-17/12/99, 31/01/00, 02/02/00-04/02/00 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 06/30/2000