Environment Protection Authority v Bulga Coal Management Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWLEC 70

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Bulga Coal Management Pty Ltd (No 2) [2014] NSWLEC 70 Hearing dates: 13 May 2014 Decision date: 04 June 2014 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: 1. The Defendant's application for costs is dismissed. 2. Costs reserved. 3. The exhibits may be returned. Catchwords: COSTS - whether successful defendant in criminal proceedings should be awarded costs payable by the prosecutor under s 257D(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 - whether the investigation into the alleged offence was conducted in an unreasonable manner - whether the proceedings were initiated without reasonable cause - whether exceptional circumstances surrounding continuation of proceedings so that just and reasonable to award costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 s 70 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 193, s 247J, s 257C, s 257D Gaming Machines Act 2001 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s 147, s 148, s 152, Pt 5.7 Cases Cited: Campbell v Director of Public Prosecutions [2009] NSWSC 973 Cliftleigh Haulage Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council [2007] NSWCCA 13 Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd v Townsden [2009] NSWSC 1117 Council of Kangan Batman Institute of Technical and Further Education v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2006] FCAFC 199; (2006) 156 FCR 275 De Varda v Constable Stengord (NSW Police) [2011] NSWLEC 868 Director-General, NSW Department of Industry & Investment v Coomes [2012] NSWLEC 251 Director of Public Prosecutions v B [1998] HCA 45; (1998) 194 CLR 566 Director of Public Prosecutions v Barnes [2010] NSWSC 1040 Dong v Hughes [2005] NSWSC 84, Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Farley [2001] NSWSC 326; (2001) 51 NSWLR 484 Environment Protection Authority v Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 5 Environment Protection Authority v Bulga Coal Management Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 55 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Limited [2007] NSWLEC 647 Environment Protection Authority v N (1992) 26 NSWLR 352 Fosse v Director of Public Prosecutions [1999] NSWSC 367 Halpin v Department of Gaming and Racing [2007] NSWSC 815 Heidt v Chrysler Australia Ltd (1976) 26 FLR 257 JD v Director of Public Prosecutions [2000] NSWSC 1092 Kanan v Australian Postal and Telecommunications Union (1992) 43 IR 257 Magaming v R [2013] HCA 40; (2013) 302 ALR 461 Maxwell v R [1996] HCA 46; (1996) 184 CLR 501 Pittwater Council v A1 Professional Tree Recycling Pty Ltd (No 3) [2009] NSWLEC 21; (2009) 165 LGERA 6 Port Macquarie - Hastings Council v Lawlor Services Pty Ltd (No 7) [2008] NSWLEC 75; (2008) 139 LGERA 87 Thompson v Hodder (1989) 21 FCR 467 Wollongong City Council v Ensile Pty Ltd (No 9) [2008] NSWLEC 248 Category: Costs Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Bulga Coal Management Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Mr S Rushton SC (Prosecutor) Mr T Howard SC (Defendant) Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) McCullough Robertson Lawyers (Defendant) File Number(s): 51033 of 2012