Environment Protection Authority v Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 223

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 223 PROSECUTOR Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd FILE NUMBER(S) : 50002 of 2001 CORAM: Pearlman J KEY ISSUES: Environmental Offences :- water pollution - plea of guilty - penalty LEGISLATION CITED: Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 120 (1), s 241(1) Environment Protection Authority v Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 174; R v Hansen (1961) 79 WN (NSW) 148; CASES CITED: R v O'Neill (1979) 2 NSWLR 582; R v Thomson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; Veen v The Queen [No 2] (1988) 164 CLR 465 DATES OF HEARING: 06/07/2001 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 09/28/2001

PROSECUTOR Mr C J Leggat (Barrister) SOLICITORS Environment Protection Authority LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES: DEFENDANT Ms H P Irish (Solicitor) SOLICITORS Corrs Chambers Westgarth

JUDGMENT:

IN THE LAND AND 50002 of 2001 ENVIRONMENT COURT Pearlman J OF NEW SOUTH WALES 28 September 2001

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY Prosecutor v PORT KEMBLA COPPER PTY LTD Defendant

JUDGMENT

Introduction

1. The defendant, Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd, has pleaded guilty to a charge that, between 4.00 am on 16 January 2000 and 9.40 on 17 January 2000, it committed an offence against s 120(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 in that it polluted waters.