Environment Protection Authority v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Limited [2004] NSWLEC 37

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Limited [2004] NSWLEC 37 PROSECUTOR: Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT: BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Limited ACN 000 019 625 FILE NUMBER(S) : 50106 of 2002; 50107 of 2002; 50108 of 2002; 50109 of 2002; 50110 of 2002 and 50111 of 2002 CORAM: Lloyd J KEY ISSUES: Environmental Offences :- pollution of waters - breaches of licence condition - plea of guilty - mitigation - totality principle - costs and penalty

LEGISLATION CITED: Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 64(1), s 120(1) and s 241 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 253(2) Anderson v The Queen (1993) 177 CLR 520; Camillieri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; Environment Protection Authority v ADI Limited [1999] NSWLEC 14; Environment Protection Authority v Anning (1998) 100 LGERA 354; Environment Protection Authority v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 19; Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refining Company Pty Ltd, NSWLEC, Stein J, July 1994, unreported; Environment Protection Authority v Capral Aluminium Ltd (NSWLEC, Cowdroy AJ, 18 December 1998, unreported; Environment Protection Authority v Norco Co-operative Ltd (2000) 108 LGERA 137; Environment Protection Authority v Port Kembla Copper Pty Ltd (2001) 115 LGERA 391; Environment Protection Authority v Softwood Holding Ltd (2000) 110 LGERA 87 ; Michael Realty Pty Ltd v Carr (1975) 2 NSWLR 812; CASES CITED: Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 295; R v O'Neill [1979] 2 NSWLR 582 at 588; R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; R v Storey [1998] 1 VR 359 at 369; R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; State Pollution Control Commission v Australian Iron and Steel Pty Ltd, NSWLEC, Cripps J, 10 October 1991, unreported; State Pollution Control Commission v Broken Hills Proprietary Co Ltd (No. 2) (1991) 74 LGRA 358; State Pollution Control Commission v CSR Ltd (1992) 75 LGRA 1; State Pollution Control Commission v Metropolitan Collieries Limited (No. 2), NSWLEC, Cripps J, 19 October 1990, unreported; State Pollution Control Commission v Shell Refining (Australia) Pty Ltd, NSWLEC, Cripps J, 20 July 1990, unreported; Walden v Hensler (1987) 163 CLR 561 DATES OF HEARING: 09/02/2004 and 10/02/2004 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 02/17/2004