Environment Protection Authority v Coe Drilling Australia Pty Limited [2005] NSWLEC 719

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Coe Drilling Australia Pty Limited [2005] NSWLEC 719 Hearing dates: 05/12/2005 Decision date: 05 December 2005 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Preston CJ Decision: (1) The defendant is convicted of the offence as charged. (2) The defendant is fined the sum of $18,000. (3) The defendant is to pay the prosecutor's legal and investigation costs in these proceedings in the agreed sum of $20,000, such costs to be paid within three months of today. Catchwords: Prosecution :- Plea of guilty - pollution of waters - application for unconditional discharge of defendant without conviction - offence not trivial either in nature or circumstances of case - contractual and commercial pressures not extenuating circumstance - obligation on contractor to comply with law irrespective of principal's conduct - foreseeable risk of harm - practical measures to avoid risk - environmental harm material but short term - financial capacity of corporate defendant to pay fine. Legislation Cited: Clean Waters Act 1970 s.16 (1) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s.3A, s.10(1), s.10(3), s.10(3)(c), s.21A(2)(g), s.21A(2)(k), s.21A(3)(a), 21A(3)(e), 21A(3)(i), s.22, s.23 Fines Act 1996 s.6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 s.3(a), s.3(d), s.3(e), s.20, s.20(1), s.120, s.120(1), s.241(1)(a), s.241(1)(b), s.241(1)(c), s.241(1)(d), s.241(1)(e), s.250(1), s.250(1)(a), s.250(1)(c) Cases Cited: Axer Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357; Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683; Environment Protection Authority v Capdate Pty Ltd (1993) 78 LGERA 349; Environment Protection Authority v Douglass (No 2) [2002] NSWLEC 94; Environment Protection Authority v Emerald Peat Pty Ltd (in Liq) [1999] NSWLEC 147; Environment Protection Authority v Le Dome Pty Limited (2002) 125 LGERA 121; Filipowski v Cadem Shipping Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 552; Filipowski v Frey [2005] NSWLEC 661; Hoare v R (1989) 167 CLR 348; Inkson v R (1996) 88 A Crim R 334; Mosman Municipal Council v Menai Excavations Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 132; Neal v R (1999) 149 CLR 305; R v Gallagher (1991) 23 NSWLR 220; R v H (1980) 38 A Crim R 53; R v Nichols (1991) 57 A Crim R 391; R v Paris [2001] NSWCCA 83; R v Rushby [1977] 1 NSWLR 594; R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300; R v Thomson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; Ryan v R (2001) 206 CLR 267; Thorneloe v Filipowski (2001) 52 NSWLR 60; 116 LGERA 56; Veen v R (No.1) (1979) 143 CLR 458; Veen v R (No.2)(1988) 164 CLR 465; Webb v Cheung [2002] NSWLEC 135 Category: Sentence Parties: PROSECUTOR Environment Protection Authority