Director-General, NSW Department Of Industry & Investment v Coomes [2012] NSWLEC 251

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Director-General, NSW Department Of Industry & Investment v Coomes [2012] NSWLEC 251 Hearing dates: 4 May, 13 - 14 June, 24 August 2012 Decision date: 13 November 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: The Court: 1. Grants certificates under s 2 of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967 to the Defendants in relation to the charges under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 in matter numbers 50063 and 50067 of 2009. 2. Orders that costs be reserved. Catchwords: COSTS - defendants claim for costs from prosecutor following unsuccessful prosecution under Criminal Procedure Act 1986 - whether unreasonable investigation or failure to properly investigate - whether proceedings initiated without reasonable cause - certificate under Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967 Legislation Cited: Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967 s 2, s 3 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 257C, s 257D Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 76A(1)(b) Fisheries Management Act 1994 s 220ZD Evidence Act 1995 Cases Cited: Cliftleigh Haulage Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council [2007] NSWCCA 13 Council of Kangan Batman Institute of Technology and Further Education v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2006] FCAFC 199 Cittadini v R [2010] NSWCCA De Varda v Constable Stengord (NSW Police) [2011] NSWSC 868 Director-General, NSW Department of Industry & Investment v Mato Investments Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 227 Fosse v DPP [1999] NSWSC 367 JD v DPP [2000] NSWSC 1092 Mordaunt v Director of Public Prosecutions [2007] NSWCA 121; (2007) 171 A Crim R 510 Pavy v R (1997) 98 A Crim R 396 Pittwater Council v A1 Professional Tree Recycling Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 325; (2008) 165 LGERA 1 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council v Lawlor Services Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 75; (2008) 159 LGERA 87 R v Dunne (NSWSC, Hunt J, 17 May 1990, unreported) R v Manley [2000] NSWCCA 196; (2000) 49 NSWLR 203 R v Reid [1999] NSWCCA 258 R v Tooes [2008] NSWSC 291 R v White (No 5) [2012] NSWSC 469 The Queen v Noakes (1986) 42 SASR 489 Category: Costs Parties: Director-General, NSW Department Of Industry & Investment (Prosecutor) James Lawrence Coomes (First Defendant) Ian Charles Bennett (Second Defendant) Representation: Mr I Lloyd QC with Mr T Howard (Prosecutor) Mr C Ireland (First Defendant) Ms A Pearman (Second Defendant) Crown Solicitor's Office (Prosecutor) Moray & Agnew (First Defendant) Neville & Hourne Legal (Second Defendant) File Number(s): 50060, 50061, 50062, 50063, 50064, 50065, 50066, 50067 of 2009