Cessnock City Council v Bimbadgen Estate Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 140

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cessnock City Council v Bimbadgen Estate Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 140 Hearing dates: 15 August 2011 Decision date: 16 August 2011 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: (1) Bimbadgen is convicted of the offence as charged; (2) Bimbadgen is fined the sum of $20,000; and (3) pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Bimbadgen is to pay the prosecutor's costs of the proceedings as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: sentence - carrying out development without consent - whether works continued after stop work order - consideration of objective and subjective factors - extent of harm - whether the offence was committed intentionally - whether the offence was committed for financial gain Legislation Cited: Cessnock Local Environmental Plan 1989 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 5, 76A, 125, 126 Fines Act 1996, s 6 Cases Cited: 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] NSWLEC 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Council of the Municipality of Kiama v Pacific Real Estate (Warilla Pty Ltd) [2009] NSWLEC 191 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson [2009] NSWLEC 4; (2009) 165 LGERA 256 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Linklater [2011] NSWLEC 30 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Huntsman Corporation Australia Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) [2009] NSWLEC 1; (2009) 164 LGERA 287 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Hardt v Environment Protection Authority [2007] NSWCCA 4; (2007) 156 LGERA 337 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 272 ALR 465