Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137

Reported Decision : 197 A Crim R 31 168 LGERA 121

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137

PROSECUTOR Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change PARTIES : DEFENDANT John Rae

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50039 of 2008

CORAM: Preston CJ

KEY ISSUES: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES - PROSECUTION :- sentence - clearing native vegetation - offence of medium objective gravity - conduct offended against legislative objects - high degree of environmental harm - conduct premeditated, intentional and with knowledge of its illegality - risk of environmental harm forseeable and preventable - mitigating subjective circumstances - lack of prior criminality - prior good character - plea of guilty - delay in plea reduced its utilitarian value - remorse - acceptance of requirement to carry out remedial work under statutory direction - assistance to authorities after a delay - consistency in sentencing.

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) s 3A, 21A, 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) s 257B, 257G LEGISLATION CITED: Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Native Vegetation Act 1991 (SA) s 26 Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW) s 3(b), 12(1), 38 Native Vegetation Conservation Act 1997 (NSW) s 17(1), 21(2)

Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Cameron v R [2002] HCA 6; (2002) 209 CLR 339 Camilleri's Stockfeeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Dempsey v The Queen [2002] QCA 45; (2002) 127 A Crim R 113 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson [2009] NSWLEC 4; (2009) 165 LGERA 256 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Taylor [2007] NSWLEC 530 Director-General Department of Environment and Climate Change v Wilton [2008] NSWLEC 297 Director-General of the Department of Land and Water Conservation v Leverton Pastoral Company Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 212 Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife v Wilkinson & Anor; Director General of Department of Land and Water Conservation v Wilkinson [2002] NSWLEC 171 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Coe Drilling Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 719 Environment Protection Authority v Le Dome Pty Ltd (2002) 125 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Holley [2009] NSWLEC 124 Garrett v Freeman (No. 5); Garrett v Port Macquarie Hastings Council; Carter v Port Macquarie Hastings Council [2009] NSWLEC 1; (2009) 164 LGERA 287 Garrett v Williams [2006] NSWLEC 785; (2006) 160 LGERA 115 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Gosford City Council v Australian Panel Products Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 77 CASES CITED: Greentree v Minister for Environment and Heritage [2005] FCAFC 128; (2005) 144 FCR 388; 143 LGERA 1 Lamattina & Anor v Gould [2009] SASC 130 Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts v Lamattina [2009] FCA 753 Minister for the Environment and Heritage v Greentree (No. 3) [2004] FCA 1317; (2004) 136 LGERA 89 Morabito v The Queen (1992) 62 A Crim R 82 Pittwater Council v Scahill [2009] NSWLEC 12; (2009) 165 LGERA 289 Piva v Brinkworth (1992) 59 SASR 92 R v AEM [2002] NSWCCA 58 R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Derbas [2003] NSWCCA 44 R v Hayes [2001] NSWCCA 410 R v Lawson (1997) 142 FLR 323 R v Oliver (1980) 7 A Crim R 174 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Rushby [1977] 1 NSWLR 594 R v Sharma [2002] NSWCCA 142; (2002) 54 NSWLR 300 R v Shorten (unreported, NSWCCA, Sully J, 10 September 1997) R v Stahl [1999] NSWCCA 160 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Sullivan v R; Skillin v R [2008] NSWCCA 296