Environment Protection Authority v Collis [2003] NSWLEC 190

> Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Collis [2003] NSWLEC 190 PROSECUTOR Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT David Richard Collis FILE NUMBER(S) : 50004 of 2003 CORAM: Pain J KEY ISSUES: Prosecution :- water pollution - strict liability offence - plea of guilty - culpability of defendant - whether owner of business or employee - application of s 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 refused - consideration of penalty - mitigating factors - means to pay Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 10 LEGISLATION CITED: Fines Act 1996 s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 120, s 241 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357; Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; Environment Protection Authority v Attard [2000] NSWCCA 242; Environment Protection Authority v Egan (Bannon J, NSWLEC, 5 August 1992, unreported); Environment Protection Authority v Excel Fuels Pty Limited [2002] NSWLEC 160; Environment Protection Authority v Harris (Talbot J, NSWLEC, 19 February 1993, unreported); Environment Protection Authority v Orange City Council (Stein J, NSWLEC, 23 June 1995, unreported); Hunter Water Board v State Rail Authority of New South Wales [No 2] (1992) 75 LGRA 22; CASES CITED: Peter Carter v Verna Wall [2003] NSWLEC 94 ; R v Andrew [2002] NSWSC 489; R v Goh [2002] NSWCCA 234; R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; R v Paris [2001] NSWCCA 83; R v Piccin (No 2) [2001] NSWCCA 323; R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCA 309; R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300; Thorneloe v Filipowski (2001) 52 NSWLR 60 DATES OF HEARING: 02/06/2003 DATE OF JUDGMENT: 08/27/2003