Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery [2012] NSWLEC 271

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery [2012] NSWLEC 271 Hearing dates: 23, 24, 25, 26 and 29 October 2012 Decision date: 20 December 2012 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: (1) the defendant is convicted of the offence as charged; (2) the defendant is fined the sum of $80,040; (3) the defendant is to pay the prosecutor's costs as agreed or assessed; and (4) the exhibits are to be returned. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES - sentence - unlawful clearing of native vegetation - plea of guilty - moderate objective seriousness - environmental harm - offence committed negligently - commission of offence not commercially motivated - scope of imminent risk routine agricultural management activity exemption under the Native Vegetation Act 2003 - meaning of "imminent risk" - mitigating factors - capacity of defendant to pay fine. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 21A, 22 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 ss 257B, 257G Fines Act 1996 ss 6, 10 Native Vegetation Act 2003 ss 3, 6, 7, 11, 12, 22 Native Vegetation Regulation 2005 cls 16, 20 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 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 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kennedy [2012] NSWLEC 159 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kyluk Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 56 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Powell [2012] NSWLEC 129 Civil Aviation Safety Authority v Alligator Airways Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 601 Corbyn v Walker Corporation Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 75 Department of the Environment and Climate Change v Calman Australia Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 182 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson [2009] NSWLEC 4; (2009) 165 LGERA 256 Director-General, Department of the Environment and Climate Change v Olmwood (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 100 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Mura [2009] NSWLEC 233 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 119 Director-General, Department of Environment Climate Change and Water v Ian Colley Earthmoving Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 102 Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Linklater [2011] NSWLEC 30 Director-General, Department of Environment Climate Change and Water v Vin Heffernan Pty Limited [2010] NSWLEC 200 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 220 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 Waste Recycling and Processing Corp [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) [2009] NSWLEC 1; (2009) 164 LGERA 287 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Gosford City Council v Forrester [2010] NSWLEC 49; (2010) 172 LGERA 400 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 242 CLR 520 Leybourne v Permanent Custodians Ltd [2010] NSWCA 78 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 Ngo v Fairfield City Council [2009] NSWCCA 241; (2009) 169 LGERA 56 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v AB [2011] NSWCCA 229; (2011) 59 MVR 356 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 Reisner v Bratt [2004] NSWCA 22 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Walker v Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change [2012] NSWCCA 210 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary (online edition)