EPA v Alkem Drums [2000] NSWCCA 416

Reported Decision : 113 LGERA 130 121 A Crim R 152

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : EPA v Alkem Drums [2000] NSWCCA 416 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60284/1999 HEARING DATE(S) : 1 August 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 16 October 2000

PARTIES : Environment Protection Authority v Alkem Drums Pty Ltd JUDGMENT OF : Foster AJA at 1; Dunford J at 17; Smart AJ at 18

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Land & Environment Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 50028/1998 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Talbot J OFFICER :

DA Buchanan SC (Appellant) COUNSEL : Nil (Respondent) T Howard (Amicus curiae) SOLICITORS : S Garrett (Appellant) Nil (Respondent) CATCHWORDS : Breach of Clean Water Regulations - failure to comply with notice - valid creation of offence by cl 21 - invalidity of part of penalty provisions of cl 21(3) severability - not a continuing offence Clean Waters Act 1970 Clean Waters Regulations 1972 LEGISLATION CITED : Environmental Offences & Penalties Act 1989 Interpretation Act 1987 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Re Dingjan; Exp Wagner (1995) 183 CLR 323 Grech v Bird (1936) 56 CLR 228 Leydon v Forrest (1980) 23 SASR 364 Exp Schaefer; Re Field (1943) 60 WN (NSW) 99 Sloggett v Adams (1953) 70 WN (NSW) 206 CASES CITED: Penton Park Homes Ltd v Chertsey Urban District Council (1973) 72 Knight's LG Rep 115 Tandridge District Council v Powers (1982) 80 Knight's LG Rep 453 Ganke v Corporate Affairs Commission (1990) 19 NSWLR 449 Robins & Sons Ltd v Mahoney (No 2) (1935) IR 155 R v Industrial Appeals Court; exp Barelli's Bakeries (1965) VR 615 Cook v Cook (1923) 33 CLR 369 DECISION : Questions in case stated answered thus; Q1 Yes in each instance; Q2 Yes; Q3 No; Q4 No; Q5 Yes; Q6 No; Case remitted to Land and Environment Court with this expression of opinion