Blue Mountains City Council v Tzannes [2009] NSWLEC 19

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Blue Mountains City Council v Tzannes [2009] NSWLEC 19

PROSECUTOR: Blue Mountains City Council PARTIES : DEFENDANT: Suzanne Tzannes

FILE NUMBER(S) : 50048 of 2008

CORAM: Lloyd J

KEY ISSUES: PROSECUTION :- penalty - plea of guilty - strict liability offence of landowner causing trees and vegetation to be cleared without first obtaining development consent - whether offender was told by council officers that she did not require development consent - extent of offender's instructions to contractor who cleared trees and vegetation - objective and subjective sentencing considerations - dismissal of charge without proceeding to conviction - section 10(3) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999

Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 10, 21A(2)(g) LEGISLATION CITED: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 76A(1), 125(1), 126 Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No. 20 - Hawkesbury-Nepean River (No 2 - 1997) cll 2, 3, 6(6), 11(3)

Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Blue Mountains City Council v Carlon [2008] NSWLEC 296 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189 CASES CITED: Makarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mosman Municipal Council v Menai Excavations Pty Ltd (2002) 122 LGERA 89 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 Thorneloe v Filipowski (2001) 52 NSWLR 60 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465