Director-General, NSW Department of Industry & Investment v Mato Investments Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 227

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Director-General, NSW Department of Industry & Investment v Mato Investments Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 227 Hearing dates: 14 March 2011 - 1 April 2011 Decision date: 01 December 2011 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: The Prosecutor has not proved beyond reasonable doubt all the necessary elements of the clearing of habitat offences in relation to all of the defendants. It follows that they are not guilty of these offences and these charges should be dismissed. The same finding also applies to the EPA Act charges which should also be dismissed against all defendants. The Prosecutor wishes to have the opportunity to consider whether it wishes to state a case before entry of formal orders and seeks a week to consider its position, which I allow. Catchwords: PROSECUTION - offences of damage to habitats of threatened ecological community, threatened fish species - whether presence of fish habitat established - whether damage to fish habitats and ecological community resulting from snag removal established - impact of absence of material witnesses in prosecutor's case - effect of admissions of defendants in records of interview PROSECUTION - breach of development consent condition by removal of snags from river - whether development consent in force during offences period - whether notification of council grant of development consent valid PROSECUTION - whether knowledge of existence of habitat established - statutory presumption of knowledge not available Legislation Cited: Corowa Local Environmental Plan 1989 Criminal Code 1995 (Cth) Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) s 18, s 486F Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 76A, s 80, s 81, s 83(1), s 96, s 101, s 125 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 cl 100, cl 102 Evidence Act 1995 s 128, s 136, s 184 Fisheries Management Act 1994 s 4, Pt 7A s 220A, s 220B, s 220C, s 220D, s 220F, s 220FB, s 220FC, s 220ZD, Sch 4, Sch 4A, Sch 5, Sch 6 Fisheries Management Amendment Act 1997 Sch 1 Local Government Act 1993 s 372(1), s 377 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 s 118D(1) Native Vegetation Act 2003 s 12(2), s 44 Cases Cited: ABC Developmental Learning Centres Pty Ltd v Wallace [2006] VSC 171; 161 A Crim R 250 Alphacell Ltd v Woodward [1972] AC 824 Carriage v Stockland Development Pty Ltd (No 10) [2005] NSWLEC 272 Coffs Harbour City Council v Hickey [2004] NSWLEC 531 Department of Environment and Climate Change v Olmwood Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 15; (2010) 173 LGERA 366 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Jack and Bill Issa Pty Ltd (No 5) [2009] NSWLEC 232; (2009) 172 LGERA 225 Director-General, Department of the Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 73 Donnelly v Delta Gold Pty Ltd [2001] NSWLEC 55; (2001) 113 LGERA 34 Dyers v The Queen [2002] HCA 45; (2002) 210 CLR 285 Environment Agency (formerly National Rivers Authority) v Empress Car Co (Abertillery) Ltd [1999] 2 AC 22 Environment Protection Authority v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Limited [2003] NSWLEC 70; (2003) 128 LGERA 240 Environment Protection Authority v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 6; (2000) 112 LGERA 1 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Ltd (1994) 83 LGERA 51 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Fish; Gordon Plath of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Orogen Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 144; (2010) 179 LGERA 386 Hopkins v Tweed Shire Council [2001] NSWLEC 75; (2001) 113 LGERA 406 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Kirk v Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales; Kirk Group Holdings Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority of New South Wales (Inspector Childs) [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Krakowski v Eurolynx Properties Limited [1995] HCA 68; (1995) 183 CLR 563 Lennard's Carrying Co Limited v Asiatic Petroleum Co Limited [1915] AC 705 Mahmood v State of Western Australia [2008] HCA 1; (2008) 232 CLR 397 Majury v Sunbeam Corporation Ltd (1974) 1 NSWLR 659 March v E & MH Stramare Pty Ltd [1991] HCA 12; (1991) 171 CLR 506 Meridian Global Funds Management Asia Ltd v Securities Commission [1995] 2 AC 500 North Sydney Council v Moline; North Sydney Council v Tomkinson (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 169 Presidential Security Services of Australia Pty Ltd v Brilley [2008] NSWCA 204; 73 NSWLR 241 Pselletes v Randwick City Council [2009] NSWCA 262; (2009) 168 LGERA 59 R v Apostilides [1984] HCA 38; (1984) 154 CLR 563 Scott v Davis [2000] HCA 52; (2000) 204 CLR 333 State Pollution Control Commission v Australian Iron & Steel Ltd (1992) 74 LGRA 387 Stoneman v Lyons [1975] HCA 59; (1975) 133 CLR 550 Whitehorn v R [1983] HCA 42; (1983) 152 CLR 657 Texts Cited: Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book, Judicial Commission of New South Wales, Sydney, 2002 Macquarie Dictionary, 5th ed (2009) Macquarie Dictionary Publishers Pty Ltd (electronic resource) S Odgers, Uniform Evidence Law, 9th ed (2010) Thomson Reuters D Ross QC, Ross on Crime, 5th ed (2011) Thomson Reuters ABC of Evidence, LexisNexis Australia (electronic resource) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Director-General, NSW Department of Industry & Investment (Prosecutor) Mato Investments Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Ian Charles Bennett (Second Defendant) Dzeladin Ceman (Third Defendant) James Lawrence Coomes (Fourth Defendant) Representation: Mr I Lloyd QC with Mr T Howard (Prosecutor) Mr J Webster SC with Ms M McMahon (First and Third Defendants) Ms A Pearman (Second Defendant) Mr C Ireland (Fourth Defendant) Crown Solicitor's Office (Prosecutor) Neville & Hourn Legal (First, Second and Third Defendants) Moray & Agnew (Fourth Defendant) File Number(s): 09/50052-5, 09/50056-9, 09/50060-3, 09/50064-7