Environmental & Earth Sciences Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [1999] NSWCCA 192

Reported Decision : 103 LGERA 434

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal CITATION : Environmental & Earth Sciences Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [1999] NSWCCA 192 revised - 02/08/99 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60208/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 10 May 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 2 August 1999

PARTIES : Environmental and Earth Sciences Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority JUDGMENT OF : Wood CJ at CL; Bell J; Carruthers AJ

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Land & Environment Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 50062/96 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER : Talbot J

COUNSEL : J J Webster for the Appellant S Rushton for the Respondent SOLICITORS : Levy Peatman for the Appellant Stephen Garrett for the Respondent CATCHWORDS : Offence against Appeal from conviction of the Environmental Offences & Penalties Act 1989 by polluting waters contrary to s. 16(1) of the Clean Waters Act 1970. - whether guilt proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecutor - whether Proudman v Dayman offence available - whether pollutant placed into or on to the water or otherwise introduced into or on to the waters. The Criminal Appeal Act, 1912, s 5AB The Land & Environment Court Act, 1979, Division 5 ACTS CITED : Environmental Offences & Penalties Act, 1989 The Clean Waters Act, 1970. ss 5, 16. Clean Waters Regulations 1972, Reg. (2)(b)(iii). Histollo Pty Limited v Director-General of National Parks & Wildlife Service (CCA, unreported 10.12.98) Knezovic v Shire of Swan - Guildford (1967) 118 CLR 468 at 475 CASES CITED: Majury v Sunbeam Corporation Ltd [1974] 1 NSWLR 659 Leyland Shipping Co Ltd. v Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society Ltd [1918] AC 350 at 369 Proudman v Dayman (1941) 67 CLR 536 Council of the City of Shoalhaven v The State Pollution Control Commission (1991) 52 A Criim R 291 at 294 DECISION : Appeal dismissed and the determinations made by the Land & Environment Court confirmed.