Environment Protection Authority v George Weston Foods Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 120

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v George Weston Foods Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 120

APPLICANT Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : RESPONDENT George Weston Foods Limited

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50049 of 2009

CORAM: Craig J

KEY ISSUES: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES :- pollution of waters by corporation – discharge of animal tallow and vegetable oil into river – sentence – offence occasioned through misadventure – harm to visual and recreational amenity of river – minimal long term damage to river – environmental harm reasonably foreseeable – offence towards lower range of objective gravity – two previous breaches of Environmental Protection Licence – one previous conviction for pollution of waters at different site and under different circumstances – defendant otherwise has good environmental record – early plea of guilty – assistance to authorities - remorse

Clean Waters Act 1970 (now repealed) LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Protection of Environment Operations Act 1997

Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Camilleri's Stockfeeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 280; (2008) 163 LGERA 71 Environment Protection Authority v Hanson Precast Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 285 CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Nolco Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 831 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Leach v The Queen (2007) 230 CLR 1 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270