Environment Protection Authority v Tea Garden Farms Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 89

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Tea Garden Farms Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 89 Hearing dates: 12, 13, 14, 15 April 2011 Decision date: 30 April 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Craig J Decision: Orders as set out at [154] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCE: - pollution - s 120(1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 - discharge of sediment-laden water from rural dam into the waters of a marine park - failure to obtain competent advice before undertaking dam repairs - excavation at base of dam wall to repair damaged drainage pipe caused dam wall collapse - work incompetently undertaken - principle that offender cannot be sentenced for more serious offence - plea of guilty - harm reasonably foreseeable - contrition and remorse - deterrence - parity - publication order Legislation Cited: Clean Air Act 1961 (now repealed) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Marine Parks Act 1997 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 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 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v BMG Environmental Group Pty Ltd and Barnes [2012] NSWLEC 48 Environment Protection Authority v Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 268; (2008) 163 LGERA 345 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 65 Environment Protection Authority v Pipeline Drillers Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 18 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 264; (2008) 162 LGERA 273 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 R v De Simoni [1991] HCA 31; (1991) 147 CLR 383 R v Moffatt [2000] NSWCCA 174; (2000) 112 A Crim R 201 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 State Pollution Control Commission v Hunt (1990) 72 LGRA 316 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Tea Garden Farms Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Mr B Docking (Prosecutor) Mr T F Robertson SC with Mr T Howard (Defendant) Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (Prosecutor) Elson Pow and Associates (Defendant) File Number(s): 50027 of 2010