The Hills Shire Council v Suciu [2009] NSWLEC 145

Reported Decision : 168 LGERA 302

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : The Hills Shire Council v Suciu [2009] NSWLEC 145 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

PARTIES : The Hills Shire Council (Prosecutor) Petre Suciu (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50085 of 2008

CORAM: Pepper J

KEY ISSUES: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES :- prosecution - ex parte proceedings - plea of not guilty - unlawful waste disposal - waste transportation and disposal in a place other than lawful waste facility - "waste" - unclean fill - finding of guilt

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 143, s 169 LEGISLATION CITED: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 250 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 76A(1)(a) Baulkham Hills Local Environmental Plan 2005

Bentley v BGP Properties (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Director-General of the Department of Land and Water Conservation v Greentree (2003) 131 LGERA 234 Environment Protection Authority v Anning (1998) 100 LGERA 354 Environment Protection Authority v Emerald Peat Pty Ltd (In Liq) [1999] NSWLEC 147 Environment Protection Authority v Hardt (2006) 148 LGERA 61 Environment Protection Authority v HTT Huntley Heritage Pty Ltd (2003) 125 LGERA 332 Environmental Protection Authority v Peters [2006] NSWLEC 465 CASES CITED: Hawkesbury City Council v Johnson; Hawkesbury City Council v Johnson Property Group Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 138 Hamilton v Whitehead (1988) 166 CLR 121 Owen v Willtara Construction Pty Ltd (1998) 103 LGERA 137 Port Stephens Council v Robinsons Anna Bay Sand Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 240 Presidential Security Services of Australia Pty Ltd v Clinton Joseph Brilley (2008) 67 ACSR 692 R v Buckett (1995) 79 A Crim R 302 Tesco Supermarkets Ltd v Nattrass [1972] AC 153 Tiger Nominees Pty Ltd v State Pollution Control Commission (1992) 25 NSWLR 715