Environment Protection Authority v BMG Environmental Group Pty Ltd & Barnes [2012] NSWLEC 69

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v BMG Environmental Group Pty Ltd & Barnes [2012] NSWLEC 69 Hearing dates: 28 March 2012 Decision date: 03 April 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Biscoe J Decision: (1) Each defendant is convicted of the offence against s 115(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 as charged; (2) Each defendant is fined $100,000; (3) Defendants jointly and severally liable to pay prosecutor's costs of $175,000 comprising legal costs in the sum of $143,631and investigation costs of $31,369. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES:-sentencing - negligently disposing of untreated sewage, septic tank waste and untreated grease trap waste in a manner that harmed or was likely to harm the environment contrary to s 115(1) of Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 - late plea of guilty - appropriate penalty Legislation Cited: Clean Waters Act 1970 s 16 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 8, 21A, 22 22A(2)(g), Part 7 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 ss 257B, 257G Environmental Offences and Penalties Act 1989 s 5(1) Fines Act 1996 s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1999 ss 114, 115, 119, 143(1), 169, 241, 248, Dictionary Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Regulation 2010 cl 23 Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 cll 51, 51A Cases Cited: Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34, 145 LGERA 234 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Gardner [1997] NSWLEC 169 Environment Protection Authority v Gardner [1997] NSWLEC 212 Environment Protection Authority v Pal [2009] NSWLEC 35 Environment Protection Authority v Wattke [2010] NSWLEC 24 Hoare v The Queen [1989] HCA 33, 167 CLR 348 Lowe v The Queen [1984] HCA 46, 154 CLR 606 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25, 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v The Queen [2011] HCA 39, 85 ALJR 1154 Pittwater Council v Scahill [2009] NSWLEC 12, 165 LGERA 289 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178, 170 LGERA 253 R v El Masri [2005] NSWCCA 167 R v Thomson [2000] NSWCCA 309, 49 NSWLR 383 R v Way [2004] NSWCCA 131, 60 NSWLR 168 Veen v The Queen [No 2] [1988] HCA 14, 164 CLR 465 Yang v R [2012] NSWCCA 49 Texts Cited: Environment Protection Authority, Environmental Guidelines: Use and Disposal of Biosolid Products (1997) Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor)