Ku-ring-gai Council v Abroon (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 12

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ku-ring-gai Council v Abroon (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 12 Hearing dates: 3 and 6 December 2010, 20 and 21 January, 3 and 11 February 2011 Decision date: 10 February 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: The orders of the Court are as follows: (1) Mr Abroon is convicted of both offences as charged; (2) in respect of the first offence (no 50079 of 2009) Mr Abroon is fined the sum of $22,500; (3) in respect of the second offence (no 50078 of 2009) Mr Abroon is fined the sum of $11,250; (4) pursuant to s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Mr Abroon is to pay the council's legal and investigation costs as determined under s 257G(b) of that Act in respect of both offences; and (5) the exhibits are to be returned. Catchwords: SENTENCING: staged development -development without operative consent -- guilty plea - relevant sentencing principles - no environmental harm - offences committed intentionally - fine imposed Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 10, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996, s 6 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 5(a)(ii), 125, 126 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bankstown City Council v Taouk Constructions Pty Ltd [2004] NSWLEC 402 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 Bimbadgen Estate Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 140 Council of the Municipality of Kiama v Furlong [2009] NSWLEC 139 Council of the Municipality of Kiama v Micallef [2009] NSWLEC 202 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 Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 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 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 272 ALR 465 Holroyd City Council v Shi [2007] NSWLEC 797 Hurstville City Council v Naumcevski [2011] NSWLEC 226 Keir v Sutherland Shire Council [2004] NSWLEC 754 Kiama Municipal Council v Gerroa Boat Fisherman's Club Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 72 Lahood v Strathfield Municipal Council [2007] NSWLEC 714 Lane Cove Council v Wu [2011] NSWLEC 43 Lee v Office of Environment and Heritage [2012] NSWLEC 9 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mosman Municipal Council v Menai Excavations Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 132; (2002) 122 LGERA 89 North Sydney Council v Littlemore [2003] NSWLEC 336; (2003) 132 LGERA 116 Pittwater Council v Scahill [2009] NSWLEC 12; (2009) 165 LGERA 289 Plath v Glover [2010] NSWLEC 119 Plath v Hunter Valley Property Management Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 264 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v AB [2011] NSWCCA 229; (2011) 59 MVR 356 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Weininger v The Queen [2003] HCA 14; (2003) 212 CLR 629 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ku-ring-gai Council (Prosecutor) Mr Abbas Abroon (Defendant) Representation: Mr T Howard (Prosecutor) Mr A Djemal (Defendant) (3 and 6 December 2010) and Ms H Irish (20 and 21 January and 3 February 2011) HWL Ebsworth (Prosecutor) M E McMahon & Associates (Defendant) File Number(s): 50078 and 50079 of 2009