Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 23

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 23

PROSECUTOR: Environment Protection Authority PARTIES : DEFENDANT: Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50073; 50074; 50075 of 2008

CORAM: Biscoe J

KEY ISSUES: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES :- sentencing considerations - offence of polluting waters of a creek and tributary - offence of occupier failing to notify appropriate regulatory authority of the pollution incident as soon as practicable after becoming aware of it - pollutant untreated effluent from defendant's abattoir which escaped as result of a split pipe and a valve being open

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A LEGISLATION CITED: Fines Act 1996, s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 120, 148

Azzopardi v R (2001) 205 CLR 50 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34, 145 LGERA 234 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Boral Australia Gypsum Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 26 Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2009] NSWLEC 181 Environment Protection Authority v Hanson Precast Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 285 Environment Protection Authority v Nalco Australia Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 831 CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Ramsey Food Processing Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 82, 125 LGERA 369 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 264, 162 LGERA 273 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419, 148 LGERA 299 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25, 228 CLR 357 Ngo v Fairfield City Council [2009] NSWCCA 241, 169 LGERA 56 R v Thomson [2000] NSWCCA 309, 49 NSWLR 383 RPS v R (2000) 199 CLR 620 Veen v R (1979) 143 CLR 458 Weissensteiner v R (1993) 178 CLR 217