Department of Environment & Climate Change v Sommerville; Department of Environment & Climate Change v Ianna [2009] NSWLEC 194

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Department of Environment & Climate Change v Sommerville; Department of Environment & Climate Change v Ianna [2009] NSWLEC 194

PROSECUTOR Department of Environment and Climate Change PARTIES : DEFENDANTS Jasen Allen Somervile (09/50028) Ross Anthony Ianna (09/50029)

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50028 of 2009; 50029 of 2009

CORAM: Pain J

KEY ISSUES: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES :- sentencing - prosecution of land owner and contractor for picking plants part of an endangered ecological community - significant environmental harm - offences not committed intentionally, recklessly or negligently - offences committed for financial gain - foreseeable risk of harm - whether order pursuant to s 10 or 10A of Crimes Sentencing Procedure Act 1999 appropriate for contractor defendant - subjective circumstances of offenders - lack of prior criminality - prior good character - early plea of guilty - contrition and remorse for conduct or consequences - assistance to authorities - offer to implement remediation program - means to pay

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A, 10, 10A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 257B LEGISLATION CITED: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 125 Fines Act 1996 s 6 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 s 2A, 118A, 118E Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 s 3, Sch 1

Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Blue Mountains City Council v Carlon [2008] NSWLEC 296 Blue Mountains City Council v Tzannes [2009] NSWLEC 19 Byron Shire Council v Fletcher [2008] NSWLEC 296 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 EPA v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Capdate Pty Ltd (1992) 78 LGERA 349 Filipowski v Fratelli D'Amato (2000) 108 LGERA 88 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) (2009) 164 LGERA 287 Garrett v Williams (2006) 145 LGERA 234 CASES CITED: Garrett v Williams [2007] NSWLEC 56 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Hardt v Environment Protection Authority (2007) 156 LGERA 337 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348 Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Limited (No 3) [2005] NSWLEC 423 Plath v Fletcher [2007] NSWLEC 596 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Canino [2002] NSWCCA 76 R v Paris [2001] NSWCCA 83 R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300. R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Thornloe v Filipowski (2001) 52 NSWLR 60 Veen v The Queen [No. 2] (1988) 164 CLR 465