Burwood Council v Doueihi [2013] NSWLEC 196

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Burwood Council v Doueihi [2013] NSWLEC 196 Hearing dates: 11 November 2013 Decision date: 18 November 2013 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: 1. The Defendant Mr Doueihi is convicted of the offence as charged. 2. The Defendant is fined the sum of $43,000. 3. The Defendant is to pay the Prosecutor's costs of the proceedings as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES - sentence - carrying out development without development consent - actions giving rise to offence were deliberate and with inference of knowledge of development control regulatory scheme as defendant a former and current elected councillor - offence committed for financial gain - mitigating factors considered Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 257B Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A, s 21A, s 22 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 5, s 76A, s 125, s 126 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 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 Blue Mountains City Council v Carlon [2008] NSWLEC 296 Burwood Council v Matthews [2013] NSWLEC 23 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 47; (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Cessnock City Council v Bimbadgen Estate Pty Ltd (No 2 ) [2011] NSWLEC 140 Cessnock City Council v Quintaz Pty Ltd; Cessnock City Council v McCudden [2010] NSWLEC 3; (2010) 172 LGERA 52 Council of Municipality of Kiama v Furlong [2009] NSWLEC 139 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Franks v Woollahra Municipal Council [2007] NSWLEC 461 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Great Lakes Council v Spalding [2011] NSWLEC 257 Hili v R; Jones v R [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 242 CLR 520 Hoare v R [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Markarian v R [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mosman Municipal Council v Menai Excavations Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 132; (2002) 122 LGERA 89 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Thompson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Veen v R [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v R (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Willoughby City Council v Revelas [2004] NSWLEC 138; (2004) 140 LGERA 348 Willoughby Council v Vlahos [2013] NSWLEC 71 Category: Sentence Parties: Burwood Council (Prosecutor) Antoine Doueihi (Defendant) Representation: Mr S Shneider (solicitor) (Prosecutor) Mr M Gilbert (Defendant) Houston Dearn O'Connor (Prosecutor) Prominent Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): 50556 of 2013