Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Proprietary Limited [2009] NSWLEC 164

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Proprietary Limited [2009] NSWLEC 164

PROSECUTOR PARTIES : Environment Protection Authority DEFENDANT Causmag Ore Company Proprietary Limited

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50025 of 2009

CORAM: Pain J

KEY ISSUES: PROSECUTION :- sentence - breach of environment protection licence condition - failure to maintain filter bags in proper and efficient manner in order to prevent escape of dust - no environmental harm other than short-term amenity impacts - reasonably serious failure to properly maintain filter bags - resulting harm reasonably foreseeable - whether defendant continued production for commercial reasons while on notice of licence breach - two previous convictions for similar offences - mitigating factors - consideration of defendant's means to pay - publication order and order for contribution to environmental project made

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Clean Air Act 1961 s 14 (repealed) Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1989 (repealed) LEGISLATION CITED: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Evidence Act 1995 s 87(1)(b) Fines Act 1996 s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 64, 241, 250

Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 EPA v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Limited (NSWLEC, Talbot J, 19 April 2000, unreported) Environment Protection Authority v BHP Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 46 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 20 Environment Protection Authority v Coastal Recycled Cooking Oils Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 242 Environment Protection Authority v Delta Electricity [2009] NSWLEC 11 Environment Protection Authority v Douglass (No 2) [2002] NSWLEC 94 Environment Protection Authority v Forgacs Engineering Pty Limited [2009] NSWLEC 64 CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Incitec Limited [2003] NSWLEC 381 Environment Protection Authority v Lithgow Coal Company Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 430 Environment Protection Authority v Rethmann Australia Environmental Services [2003] NSWLEC 351 Environment Protection Authority v Shoalhaven Starches Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 107 Environment Protection Authority v Virotec International Limited [2002] NSWLEC 110 Environment Protection Authority v Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Holley [2009] NSWLEC 124 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Gosford City Council v Australian Panel Products Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 77 Hoare v R (1989) 167 CLR 348 R v Rahme (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Veen v The Queen [No. 2] (1988) 164 CLR 465