Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Hearing dates: 23 March 2015 Date of orders: 24 March 2015 Decision date: 24 March 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Preston CJ Decision: Orders as set out at [137]-[138] Catchwords: OFFENCES AND PENALTIES – sentence – contravention of condition of environment protection licence – not carry out licensed activities in a competent manner – emission of dust from factory into atmosphere – objective seriousness of offence – dust deposited on properties in neighbourhood – actual environmental harm of low seriousness – practical measures not taken to avoid environmental harm – foreseeability of risk of environmental harm – emission of dust clearly foreseeable if practical measures not taken – full control over causes of commission of offence – low overall objective seriousness – subjective circumstances of offender – record of prior convictions – aggravating factor – early plea of guilty – offender's genuine remorse for the offence – offender's good corporate character – offender cooperated with authorities – appropriate penalty is a fine and publication order – evidence of corporate offender's financial means insufficient to reduce amount of fine – offender ordered to pay prosecutor's costs and prosecutor's costs of investigation Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 21A(2), 21A(3), 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 257B Fines Act 1966 s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 ss 64(1), 241(1), 248(1), 250(1)(a), 250(1)(e) Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; (1993) 82 LGERA 21 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2000] NSWLEC 205 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 164 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (The Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103; (2014) 206 LGERA 239 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 R v McNaughton [2006] NSWCCA 242; (2006) 163 A Crim R 381 R v Rahme (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 R v Thompson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 R v Wisbey [2001] NSWCCA 434 RCW v R (No 2) [2014] NSWCCA 190 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms S Anderson (Solicitor) (Prosecutor) Mr P S Holland (Solicitor) (Defendant)