Environment Protection Authority v Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 55

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 55 Hearing dates: 14 May 2014 Decision date: 14 May 2014 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: 1. Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited is convicted of the offence as charged and fined $65,000. 2. Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited is to pay the Prosecutor's costs under s 257B of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 as agreed or assessed. 3. Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited is to pay the Prosecutor's investigation costs pursuant to s 248 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 as agreed or assessed. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES - sentence - plea of guilty to charge of water pollution from tailings pipe leak at coal mine - strict liability offence - low level of objective seriousness - mitigating factors considered Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 247E Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 3A, s 21A, s 22, s 23 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Ch 5, s 120, s 123, s 241 Cases Cited: Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Cameron v R [2002] HCA 6; (2002) 209 CLR 339 Environment Protection Authority v Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 134 Environment Protection Authority v M A Roche Group Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 191 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 65 Environment Protection Authority v Peak Gold Mines Pty Limited [2013] NSWLEC 158 Environment Protection Authority v Pipeline Drillers Group Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 18 Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Pty Limited [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Sibelco Australia Limited [2011] NSWLEC 160 Environment Protection Authority v Straits (Hillgrove) Gold Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 114; (2010) 174 LGERA 314 Environment Protection Authority v Tea Garden Farms Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 89 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Hoare v R [1989] HCA 33; (1989) 167 CLR 348 Markarian v R [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Minister for Planning v Moolarben Coal Mines Pty Limited [2010] NSWLEC147; (2010) 174 LGERA 93 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Veen v R [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v R (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Walden v Hensler [1957] HCA 54; (1987) 163 CLR 561 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Mr S Rushton SC (Prosecutor) Mr T Howard SC (Defendant) Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) McCullough Robertson Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): 51032 of 2012