Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council; Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council; Mouawad v The Hills Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 165 Hearing dates: 5 September, 30 November and 1 December 2011 Decision date: 30 September 2013 Jurisdiction: Class 6 Before: Pepper J Decision: Appeals dismissed with costs. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: appeals against conviction and sentence from Local Court - unlawful transportation of waste - elements of the offence - whether first company vicariously liable for transportation of waste of second company - whether second company transporting the waste acted as the agent of the first company - whether material classified as "waste" - whether place being used as a "waste facility" without lawful authority - whether penalties imposed by court below excessive - whether costs orders imposed by court below excessive - appeals dismissed. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001, ss 31, 37, 39 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22, 23 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 76A, 79 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 44, 48, 143, 144, 169, 241, Sch 1 Baulkham Hills Local Environmental Plan 2005, cls 5(1), 13 Cases Cited: ABC Developmental Learning Centres Pty Ltd v Wallace [2006] VSC 171; (2006) 161 A Crim R 250 Alliance Craton Explorer Pty Ltd v Quasar Resources Pty Ltd [2013] FCAFC 29; (2013) 296 ALR 465 Baini v The Queen [2012] HCA 59; (2012) 246 CLR 469 Blacktown City Council v Pace [2002] NSWLEC 142; (2002) 121 LGERA 432 Coffs Harbour City Council v Hickey [2004] NSWLEC 531 Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society Ltd v The Producers and Citizens Co-Operative Assurance Company of Australia Ltd (1931) 46 CLR 41 Department of Environment and Climate Change v Olmwood Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 15; (2010) 173 LGERA 366 Director General, Department of Education and Training v MT [2006] NSWCA 270; (2006) 67 NSWLR 237 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Jack & Bill Issa Pty Ltd (No 5) [2009] NSWLEC 232; (2009) 172 LGERA 225 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 73 Director-General of the Department of Land and Water Conservation v Greentree [2002] NSWLEC 102 Director-General of Department of Land and Water Conservation v Greentree [2003] NSWCCA 31; (2003) 131 LGERA 234 Director-General of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Walker Corporation Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 229 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Geoff Robinson Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 14 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Hardt [2006] NSWLEC 438; (2006) 148 LGERA 61 Environment Protection Authority v Hardt [2007] NSWLEC 284 Environment Protection Authority v HTT Huntley Heritage Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 76; (2003) 125 LGERA 332 Environment Protection Authority v McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 70; (2003) 128 LGERA 240 Environment Protection Authority v Multiplex Constructions Pty Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 6; (2000) 112 LGERA 1 Environment Protection Authority v Shannongrove Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 162; (2010) 176 LGERA 31 Environment Protection Authority v Shannongrove Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 202 Environment Protection Authority v Smart Skip (NSW) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 204 Environment Protection Authority v Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Ltd [1994] NSWLEC 55; (1994) 83 LGERA 51 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCCA 180 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd & Page [2012] NSWLEC 216 Environment Protection Authority v Wyong Shire Council [2012] NSWLEC 36 Fullerton Cove Residents Action Group Incorporated v Dart Energy Ltd (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 38 Gerondal v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2009] NSWLEC 160 Histollo Pty Ltd v Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998) 45 NSWLR 661 Hollis v Vabu Pty Ltd [2001] HCA 44; (2001) 207 CLR 21 International Harvester Company of Australia Proprietary Limited v Carrigan's Hazeldene Pastoral Company [1958] HCA 16; (1958) 100 CLR 644 Kennedy v De Trafford [1897] AC 180 Lloyd v Ryan Borg by his Tutor NSW Trustee and Guardian [2013] NSWCA 245 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 McConnell Dowell Constructors (Aust) Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2000] NSWCCA 367; (2000) 50 NSWLR 127 Meridian Global Funds Management Asia Ltd v Securities Commission [1995] 2 AC 500 North Sydney Council v Moline; North Sydney Council v Tomkinson (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 169 Parker v Director of Public Prosecutions (1992) 28 NSWLR 282 Plaintiff M70/2011 v Minister for Immigration and Citizenship [2011] HCA 32; (2011) 244 CLR 144 Presidential Security Services of Australia Pty Ltd v Brilley [2008] NSWCA 204; (2008) 73 NSWLR 241 Scott v Davis [2000] HCA 52; (2000) 204 CLR 333 Shannongrove Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority [2013] NSWCCA 179 South Sydney District Rugby League Football Club Ltd v News Ltd [2000] FCA 1541; (2000) 177 ALR 611 Sweeney v Boylan Nominees Pty Ltd [2006] HCA 19; (2006) 226 CLR 161 Terrey v Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water [2011] NSWLEC 141 The Hills Shire Council v Kinnarney Civil & Earthworks Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 45; (2012) 188 LGERA 273 The Hills Shire Council v Kinnarney Civil & Earthworks Pty Ltd & Kinnarney (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 95 The Hills Shire Council v Suciu (No 3) [2009] NSWLEC 192 Tiger Nominees Pty Ltd v State Pollution Control Commission (1991) 25 NSWLR 715 Tonto Home Loans Australia Pty Ltd v Tavares; FirstMac Ltd v Di Benedetto; FirstMac Ltd v O'Donnell [2011] NSWCA 389 Wakool Shire Council v Garrison Cattle Feeders Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 224 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water [2012] NSWCCA 210; (2012) 82 NSWLR 12 Wollondilly Shire Council v Foxman Environmental Development Services Pty Ltd (No 5); Foxman Environmental Development Services Pty Ltd v Wollondilly Shire Council [2013] NSWLEC 68 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Paul Mouawad (First Appellant) Ninoska Mouawad (Second Appellant) The Hills Shire Council (Respondent) Representation: Mr T Howard (Appellants) Mr D Buchanan SC and Mr M Wright (Respondent) Veritas Legal (Appellants) The Hills Shire Council (Respondent) File Number(s): 60290 and 60291 of 2011