Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Limited [2012] NSWLEC 222

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Limited [2012] NSWLEC 222 Hearing dates: 28 August 2012 Decision date: 21 September 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See par 76 Catchwords: PROSECUTION - plea of guilty - sentencing - water pollution by discharge of sediment laden water into creek from clearing of land for mining purposes - low level of environmental harm and culpability - mitigating factors Legislation Cited: Clean Waters Act 1970 (repealed) s 16 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A, s 21A Fisheries Management Act 1994 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 3, s 120, s 148(4), s 150, s 241, s 244, s 250, s 257 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 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 Caralis v Smyth (1988) 65 LGRA 303; (1988) 34 A Crim R 193 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson [2009] NSWLEC 4; (2009) 165 LGERA 256 Director-General, Dept of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Albury City Council [2009] NSWLEC 169 Environment Protection Authority v BMG Environmental Group Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 69 Environment Protection Authority v Centennial Newstan Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 732 Environment Protection Authority v Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 268; (2008) 163 LGERA 345 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 65 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Sibelco Australia Limited [2011] NSWLEC 160 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Hydro Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 264; (2008) 162 LGERA 273 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) [2009] NSWLEC 1; (2009) 164 LGERA 287 Gittany v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Hardt v Environment Protection Authority [2007] NSWCCA 4; (2007) 156 LGERA 337 Hoare v R [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Markarian v R [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd v Newcastle City Council [2006] NSWCCA 403; (2006) 151 LGERA 260 Pittwater Council v Scahill [2009] NSWLEC 12; (2009) 165 LGERA 289 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Sharma [2002] NSWCCA 142; (2002) 54 NSWLR 300 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 R v Way [2004] NSWCCA 131; (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 Sherras v De Rutzen [1895] 1 QB 918 Veen v R [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Yang v R [2012] NSWCCA 49 Texts Cited: Sentencing Bench Book, Judicial Commission of NSW Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Ravensworth Operations Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Mr P Barley (solicitor) (Prosecutor) Mr T Howard (Defendant) Department of Premier and Cabinet, Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) McCullough Robertson Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): 50196 of 2012