Environment Protection Authority v Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Holley [2009] NSWLEC 124

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Environment Protection Authority v Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Holley [2009] NSWLEC 124

50042 of 2008 Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd (Defendant) PARTIES : 50043 of 2008 Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Graham Robert Holley (Defendant)

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50042 & 50043 of 2008

CORAM: Lloyd J

ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES :- penalty - breach of environment protection licence - concentration of total suspended solids at monitoring point in excess of licence requirement - delegation to contractor - contractor acting contrary to instruction - appropriate penalty for defendant company - no conviction for defendant director - relevant considerations - minor environmental harm - low culpability - general deterrence - discount for guilty plea entered after first opportunity - meaning of the first opportunity KEY ISSUES: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE: - excessive citation of authorities

LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A, s 10, s 21A Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 64(1), s 169, s 241, s 250(1)

Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 47; (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Cameron v R [2002] HCA 6; (2002) 209 CLR 339 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 289; (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 280; (2008) 163 LGERA 71 Environment Protection Authority v Bluescope Steel (AIS) Pty Ltd [2004] NSWLEC 400 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refineries (NSW) Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 194 Environment Protection Authority v Delta Electricity [2009] NSWLEC 11 Environment Protection Authority v Lithgow City Council [2007] NSWLEC 695 Environment Protection Authority v Lithgow Coal Company Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 430 Environment Protection Authority v Metalcorp Recyclers Pty Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 259 Environment Protection Authority v Metalcorp Recyclers Pty Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 253 Environment Protection Authority v Metalcorp Recyclers Pty Ltd [2004] NSWLEC 14; (2004) 136 LGERA 125 CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Sell and Parker Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 626; (2006) 149 LGERA 209 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 Markarian v R [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Murray Irrigation Ltd v ICW Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 23 R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Joseph Sukkar [2006] NSWCCA 92 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Rushby [1977] 1 NSWLR 594 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 State Pollution Control Commission v White Wings Pty Ltd (Land and Environment Court, 1 November 1991, unreported) Sullivan v R; Skillin v R [2008] NSWCCA 296 SZ v R [2007] NSWCCA 19 Thorneloe v Filipowski [2001] NSWCCA 213; (2001) 52 NSWLR 60 Walden v Hensler (1987) 163 CLR 561