Manly Council v Horizon Habitats Pty Limited [2015] NSWLEC 15

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Manly Council v Horizon Habitats Pty Limited [2015] NSWLEC 15 Hearing dates: 6 February 2015 Decision date: 12 February 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Sheahan J Decision: (1)The defendant is found guilty, and is convicted, of the offence charged in the summons. (2)The defendant is ordered to pay a fine of $40,000. (3)The defendant is ordered to pay the prosecutor's costs, as agreed, or as assessed according to law. (4)All exhibits except Exhibit P1 are returned. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: Development in breach of a consent – plea of guilty – consideration of objective and subjective circumstances – threat of harm to endangered species – application for a discharge without penalty. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Manly Local Environmental Plan 1988 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Cases Cited: Alramon Pty Limited v City of Ryde Council [2014] NSWLEC 100 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v Gordon [2005] NSWLEC 695 Blue Mountains City Council v Carlon [2008] NSWLEC 296 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; 82 LGERA 21 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Bombala Investments Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 185; 199 LGERA 236 Cooper v Coffs Harbour City Council (1997) 97 LGERA 125 Environment Protection Authority v Gardner [1997] NSWLEC 169 Environment Protection Authority v Unomedical Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 131 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; 148 LGERA 299 Garrett v Williams [2006] NSWLEC 785; 160 LGERA 115 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; 145 LGERA 189 Hardt v Environment Protection Authority [2007] NSWCCA 338; 156 LGERA 337 Keir v Sutherland Shire Council [2004] NSWLEC 754 Ku-ring-gai Council v Steve Nolan Constructions Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 258 Markarian v R [2005] HCA 25; 228 CLR 357 Newcastle Port Corporation v MS Magdalene Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH; Newcastle Port Corporation v Vazhnenko [2013] NSWLEC 210 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; 170 LGERA 253 Poche v Manly Council, NSWLEC, unreported, matters 10915 and 11004 of 2013, 19 August 2014 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; 49 NSWLR 383 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Boggabri Coal Pty Ltd [2014] NSWLEC 154 Thorneloe v Filipowski [2001] NSWCCA 213; 52 NSWLR 60 Category: Sentence Parties: Manly Council (Prosecutor) Horizon Habitats Pty Limited (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: A Djemal, barrister (Prosecutor) R Lancaster, SC with A Stafford, barrister (Defendant)