Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280

Reported Decision : (2001) 115 LGERA 304 [2001] ACL Rep 180 NSW 80

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60855/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 4 July 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 4 July 2001

PARTIES : Cabonne Shire Council - Appellant Environment Protection Authority - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Hulme J at 40; Adams J at 44

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Land and Environment Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : LEC 50047/00 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Cowdroy J OFFICER :

COUNSEL : I S Lloyd QC - Appellant D A Buchanan SC - Respondent SOLICITORS : Minter Ellison - Appellant Stephen Garrett - Respondent CATCHWORDS : SENTENCING - pollution of waters - fine effectively of 30% of maximum penalty before discount for early plea - gravity of offence low - sentence manifestly excessive - much reduced fine substituted - observations on effect of legislature's increase of maximum penalty. Clean Waters Act 1970; LEGISLATION CITED : Courts Legislation Amendment Act 2000; Criminal Appeal Act 1912; Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. Camilleri's Stock Feed Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; Environment Protection Authority v Orange City Council (1995) NSWLEC 103; CASES CITED: Environment Protection Authority v Timber Industries Ltd (2001) NSWLEC 25; Histollo Pty Ltd v Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998) 45 NSWLR 661; R v Slattery (1996) 90 A Crim R 519. DECISION : Sentence of a fine of $75,000 imposed by Cowdroy J quashed; in lieu thereof the appellant be fined $11,250.