Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Rinaldo (Nino) Lani [2012] NSWLEC 115

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Rinaldo (Nino) Lani [2012] NSWLEC 115 Hearing dates: 30/04/2012; 01/05/2012; 02/05/12 Decision date: 18 May 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Lloyd AJ Decision: Refer to paragraphs [69], [70], [146] and [147] herein Catchwords: PROSECUTION:- damage to threatened species habitat - sentencing principles - conduct amounting to an additional offence not charged - relevance - De Simoni principle applied

SENTENCE: - separate and discrete offences - penalty - totality principle does not apply

COSTS:- environmental offences - extent of environmental harm - principal issue - extent of harm alleged by prosecutor not established - apportionment of costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 3A, s 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 257 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, s 5, s 118D(1), s 175B(1), s 194 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, s 4, s 10 Cases Cited: Alvares v R; Farache v R [2011] NSWCCA 33; (2011) 209 A Crim 297 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 354 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; (2003) 82 LGERA 21 Director General of National Parks and Wildlife v Wilkinson [2002] NSWLEC 171 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137, (2009) 168 LGERA 121, (2009) A Crim R 31 Environment Protection Authority v Capdate Pty Ltd (1993) 78 LGERA 349; Garret v Freemen (No. 5) [2009] NSWLEC 1; (2009) 164 LGERA 287 Great Lakes Council v Big Island Forster Pty Ltd [2007] NSWLEC 279 Great Lakes Council v Lani & Ors [2007] NSWLEC 681; (2007) 158 LGERA 1 Makarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 R v Bright [1916] 2 KB 441 R v Dales [1995] QCA 329; (1995) 80 A Crim R 50 R v Dales [1995] QCA 329; (1995) 80 A Crim R 50 R v JCW [2000] NSWCCA 209 R v Oldbrich [1999] HCA 54, (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Winchester (1992) 58 A Crim R 345 R v Zahra [1998] SASC 7010 The Queen v Austin (1985) 212 LSJS 181 The Queen v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Rinaldo (Nino) Lani (Defendant 50522 of 2011; 50525 of 2011) Lampo Pty Ltd (Defendant 50523 of 2011) Bombala Investments Pty Ltd (Defendant 50524 of 2011) Representation: COUNSEL Mr M M Kelly (Solicitor) (Prosecutor) Mr C R Ireland (Defendants) SOLICITORS Gordon Plath, Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) O'Sullivan & Saddington Lawyers (Defendants) File Number(s): 50522 of 2011 50523 of 2011 50524 of 2011 50525 of 2011