Garrett v Dennis Charles Williams [2006] NSWLEC 785

Reported Decision : 160 LGERA 115

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Garrett v Dennis Charles Williams [2006] NSWLEC 785 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

PROSECUTOR Stephen Garrett PARTIES : DEFENDANT Dennis Charles Williams

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50053; 50056 of 2005

CORAM: Preston CJ

KEY ISSUES: Environmental Offences :- pick endangered ecological community - sentencing - objective seriousness of offence - substantial environmental harm - premeditated and deliberate conduct - done for commercial reasons of proposed development - series of acts - mitigating circumstances - late plea of guilty - no prior convictions - prior good character

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A(a), (b), (e)-(g), s 5(1), s 21A(2)(g), s 21A(2)(m), s 21A(3)(e),(f),(k), s 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 253(2) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 5A, s 149 LEGISLATION CITED: Fines Act 1996 s 6 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) s 118A(2) National Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act 2001 sch 3 item [27] Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995

Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357; Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234; Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council (2006) 146 LGERA 349; Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; Dempsey v R [2002] QCA 45 (22 February 2002); Director-General National Parks and Wildlife Service v Wilkinson [2002] NSWLEC 71 (27 September 2002); Environment Protection Authority v Australian Waste Recyclers 1 Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 739 (22 December 2005); Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 (17 August 2006); Environment Protection Authority v Gardner [1997] NSWLEC 169 (7 November 1997); Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419 (10 July 2006); Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242 (10 May 2006); Markarian v The Queen (2005) 79 ALJR 1048; Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59; Pearce v The Queen (1988) 194 CLR 610; Piva v Brinkworth (1992) 59 SASR 92; R v Anglian Water Services Ltd [2004] 1 Cr App R(S) 62, [2004] JPL 458; CASES CITED: R v Bata Industries Ltd (1992) 92 OR (3d) 329, 7 CELR (NS) 245; R v Elfar [2003] NSWCCA 358 (2 December 2003); R v F Howe & Son [1999] 2 All ER 249; R v Kalache (2000) 111 A Crim R 152; R v McNaughton [2006] NSWCCA 242 (11 August 2006); R v Milford Haven Port Authority [2000] JPL 943; R v Morabito (1992) 62 A Crim R 82; R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247; R v Power [1999] NSWCCA 25 (5 March 1999); R v Sutton [2004] NSWCCA 225 (6 July 2004); R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; R v Wheeler [2000] NSWCCA 34 (16 February 2000); R v Winchester (1992) 58 A Crim R 345; R v Yorkshire Water Services Ltd [2002] 2 Cr App R(S) 13, [2002] Env LR 18; Regina v A [999] NSWCCA 61 (30 March 1999); State Pollution Control Commission v T J Bryant Pty Ltd [1991] NSWLEC 70 (11 June 1991); Veen v R (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; Walker v Eves (1976) 13 SASR 92