Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 264

Reported Decision : 162 LGERA 273

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 264

PROSECUTOR: Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT: Snowy Hydro Ltd

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50039 of 2007

CORAM: Biscoe J

KEY ISSUES: Environmental Offences :- sentence - polluting waters of river during connection of dam to river at the end of dam upgrade works - pollutant sediment laden waters containing soil, earth, clay or similar inorganic matter - factors to be taken into account on sentencing - principle that an offender cannot be sentenced for a more serious offence.

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A, 23(1) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED: Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 3(1), 91, 114, 116(1), 119, 120, 123, 241, 246, 248, 250(1)(e), 257 Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act 1997 (Cth) Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act 1997 (NSW) Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act 1997 (Vic)

Alphacell Ltd v Woodward [1972] AC 824 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Said Khodor El Karhani (1990) 21 NSWLR 270 Environment Agency (formerly National Rivers Authority) v Empress Car Co. (Arbertillery) Ltd [1999] 2 AC 22 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Barclay Mowlem Construction Ltd [1998] NSWLEC 304 Environment Protection Authority v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 732 Environment Protection Authority v Cleary Bros (Bombo) Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 466 Environment Protection Authority v CSR Building Products Limited [2008] NSWLEC 224 Environment Protection Authority v Daryl McCarthy Constructions Pty Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 223 Environment Protection Authority v Duke Eastern Gas Pipeline Pty Limited [2002] NSWLEC 84 Environment Protection Authority v Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 268 Environment Protection Authority v G. Pezzimenti & Sons Pty Ltd [1994] NSWLEC 6 Environment Protection Authority v Gosford City Council (1997) 95 LGERA 338 Environment Protection Authority v Hochtief AG and Thiess Pty Limited [2007] NSWLEC 177 Environment Protection Authority v Integral Energy Australia Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 141 Environment Protection Authority v Lithgow City Council [2007] NSWLEC 695 Environment Protection Authority v Nalco Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 831 Environment Protection Authority v Nowra Chemical Manufacturers Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 187 CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Sell & Parker (2006) 149 LGERA 209 Environment Protection Authority v Taylor Woodrow (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) (1997) 97 LGERA 368 Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 25 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Hardt v Environment Protection Authority (2007) 156 LGERA 337 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348 Lovegrove v The Queen [1961] Tas S.R. 206 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 NSW Sugar Milling Co-Operative Ltd v Environmental Protection Agency (1992) 59 A Crim R 6 R v Booth (unreported, 12 November 1993, NSWCCA) R v Carroll [2008] NSWCCA 218 R v Channells (unreported, 30 September 1997, NSWCCA) R v Daetz (2003) 139 A Crim R 398 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Henry (1999) 46 NSWLR 346 R v JB; R v RJH [1999] NSWCCA 93 R v McNaughton (2006) 66 NSWLR 566 R v Slattery (1996) 90 A Crim R 519 R v Thompson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Webb (2004) 149 A Crim R 167 R v Whyte (2002) 55 NSWLR 252 The Queen v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458