Warringah Council v Bonanno [2012] NSWLEC 265

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Warringah Council v Bonanno [2012] NSWLEC 265 Hearing dates: 3 December 2012 Decision date: 04 December 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Sheahan J Decision: (1) Joseph Bonanno is found guilty and is convicted of the offence charged in the summons. (2) The defendant Bonanno is fined $37,500, and ordered to pay the prosecutor's costs and appropriate investigation expenses, as agreed or assessed. (3) Exhibit W1 is to remain in the court file, but all the defendant's exhibits are returned. Catchwords: PROSECUTION: clearing of sensitive and protected vegetation on a sand dune - early plea of guilty - request for court to avoid a conviction - costs Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2011 Warringah Development Control Plan 2011 Cases Cited: Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34, (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Blue Mountains City Council v Carlon [2008] NSWLEC 296 Blue Mountains City Council v Tzannes [2009] NSWLEC 19 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 47, (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Powell [2012] NSWLEC 129 Cobiac v Liddy (1969) 119 CLR 257 Environmental Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Manly Council v Taheri [2008] NSWLEC 314 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309, (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Sutton [2004] NSWCCA 225 The Council of the City of Gosford v Tauszik [2005] NSWLEC 266 Thewlis v R [2008] NSWCCA 176 Thorneloe v Filipowski [2001] NSWCCA 213 Wood v R [2012] NSWCCA 21 Category: Sentence Parties: Warringah Council (Prosecutor) Joseph Bonanno (Defendant) Representation: Mr M Arch, Solicitor (Prosecutor) Mr D Nagle, Barrister (Defendant) Concordia Pacific (Prosecutor) Andrews & Co Lawyers Pty Ltd (Defendant) File Number(s): 50775 of 2012