Environment Protection Authority v Geoff Robinson Pty Ltd, Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2011] NSWLEC 14

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Geoff Robinson Pty Ltd, Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2011] NSWLEC 14 Hearing dates: 8 February 2011 Decision date: 09 February 2011 Before: Pepper J Decision: Proceedings 50030 of 2010 (against the company): (1) the defendant is convicted of the offence as charged; (2) the defendant is fined the sum of $13,400.00; (3) the defendant is to pay the prosecutor's professional costs and disbursements as agreed in the sum of $20,500; (4) the defendant is to pay prosecutor's investigation costs agreed in the sum of $3,500 Proceedings 50029 of 2010 (against Mr Robinson): (5) the defendant is convicted of the offence as charged; (6) the defendant is fined the sum of $10,050.00; (7) the defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs and disbursements as agreed in the sum of $20,500; (8) the defendant is to pay the prosecutor's investigation costs as agreed in the sum of $3,500; Both proceedings: (9) pursuant to s 250(1)(a) of the POEOA within 28 days of this order, the defendants are to place a notice in the first 12 pages of the early general news section of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Port Stephens Examiner at a minimum size of 8 cm by 12 cm in the form of Annexure 'A' to this order; (10) within 35 days of this order, the defendants are to provide to the prosecutor a copy of the notice as published in the newspapers in accordance with the preceding order; and (11) the exhibits are to be returned. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES - sentencing - use of land as waste facility without lawful authority - consideration of objective and subjective factors - defendants fined and ordered to pay the prosecutor's professional and investigation costs - whether publication order should be made - whether possible confusion between the identity of one of the defendants and third party should prevent a publication order being made - publication order made Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 21A, 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996 s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 ss 48, 144(1), 169(1), 241, 250(1)(a) Cases Cited: Abdel Alameddine v R [2006] NSWCCA 317 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Cessnock City Council v Quintaz Pty Limited; Cessnock City Council v McCudden [2010] NSWLEC 3; (2010) 172 LGERA 52 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 426 Environment Protection Authority v Buchanan (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 31; (2009) 165 LGERA 383 Environment Protection Authority v Ecolab Pty Limited [2002] NSWLEC 206(2002); 123 LGERA 269 Environment Protection Authority v Ghossayn [2009] NSWLEC 181 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Hardt [2007] NSWLEC 284 Environment Protection Authority v Hogan [2008] NSWLEC 125 Environment Protection Authority v Nechakoski [2002] NSWLEC 61; (2002) 120 LGERA 426 Environment Protection Authority v Pannowitz & Steepleton Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 175 Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2004] NSWLEC 629 Environment Protection Authority v Smartskip (NSW) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 204 Environment Protection Authority v Sorcevski [2002] NSWLEC 115 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporations [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Environment Protection Authority v Wattke; Environment Protection Authority v Geerdink [2010] NSWLEC 24 Eurobodalla Shire Council v Leth [2007] NSWLEC 599 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Graham v R [2009] NSWCCA 212 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Keir v Sutherland Shire Council [2004] NSWLEC 754 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products [2002] NSWLEC 66 Pittwater Council v Scahill [2009] NSWLEC 12; (2009) 165 LGERA 289 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Thomson [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Rahme v R (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 The Hills Shire Council v Suciu (No 3) [2009] NSWLEC 192 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Geoff Robinson Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Geoffrey Allan Robinson (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr E Bateman (solicitor) (Prosecutor) Mr J Johnson (Defendants) Solicitors: Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (Prosecutor) John Edmunds Solicitor (Defendants) File Number(s): 50029 & 50030 of 2010