Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2009] NSWLEC 181

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2009] NSWLEC 181

PROSECUTOR Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT George Ghossayn

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50037 of 2008; 50038 of 2008

CORAM: Pepper J

PROSECUTION :- licenced waste facility - breach of s 126 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1979 - guilty plea - air pollution - smouldering sub-surface fires and offensive odour - neighbouring property affected - sentencing considerations - defendant director with control over premises at all times - company with prior environmental convictions - only one director charged - forseeability of risk of harm - minimal environment harm - harm to regulatory regime - penalty KEY ISSUES: PROSECUTION :- waste facility without lawful authority - breach of s 144 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1979 - guilty plea - failure to pay waste contributions to council - notice of suspension of facility - breach of notice of suspension - waste continued to be accepted despite suspension - s 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 not appropriate - penalty

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 10, 21A and 22 LEGISLATION CITED: Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 ss 3, 55, 88, 132, 126, 144, 169, 212 and 241 Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 s 3

Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (2001) 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-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137 Dodds v R [2009] NSWCCA 191 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Said Khodor El Karhani (1990) 21 NSWLR 370 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Burrangong Meat Processors Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 102 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refineries (NSW) Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 335 Environment Protection Authority v Coastal Recycled Cooking Oils Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 242 Environment Protection Authority v Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd [2008] 163 LGERA 345 CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Hogan [2008] NSWLEC 125 Environment Protection Authority v Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Holley [2009] NSWLEC 124 Environmental Protection Authority v Obaid [2005] NSWLEC 171 Eurobodalla Shire Council v Leth [2007] NSWLEC 599 Filipowski v Hemina Holdings SA; Filipowski v Rajagopalan (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 104 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Kari & Ghossayn Pty Limited v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 150 LGERA 231 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 PHAM v R [2009] NSWCCA 25 Pittwater Council v Scahill (2009) 165 LGERA 289 R v Kerr [2003] NSWCCA 234 Thorneloe v Filipowski (2001) 52 NSWLR 60 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458