Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25 PROSECUTOR Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT Timber Industries Ltd FILE NUMBER(S) : 50048 of 2000 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 123, s 241 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 39; R v Slattery (1996) 90 A Crim R 519; R v Thompson [2000] NSWCCA 309 DATES OF HEARING: 01/02/2001 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03/02/2001

PROSECUTOR Mr G J Plath (Solicitor) SOLICITORS Environment Protection Authority LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES: DEFENDANT Mr A L Hill (Barrister) SOLICITORS Murphy & Moloney

JUDGMENT:

IN THE LAND AND 50048 of 2000 ENVIRONMENT COURT Pearlman J OF NEW SOUTH WALES 2 March 2001

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AUTHORITY Prosecutor v TIMBER INDUSTRIES LTD Defendant

JUDGMENT

Introduction

1. The defendant, Timber Industries Ltd, has pleaded guilty to committing an offence under s 120(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 ("the POEO Act"). The summons charges that on or about 7 September 1999, at or near Oberon, the defendant polluted waters.