Wingecarribee Shire Council v O’Shanassy (No 6) [2015] NSWLEC 138

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Wingecarribee Shire Council v O'Shanassy (No 6) [2015] NSWLEC 138 Hearing dates: 10, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19 and 21 March, 14, 15, 16 and 17 April, 19 and 21 May, 15 and 16 September 2014 Date of orders: 21 August 2015 Decision date: 21 August 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [255]. Catchwords: SENTENCING: unlawful earthworks and the removal of trees and vegetation absent development consent – applicable sentencing principles – objective factors – subjective factors – late change of plea to guilty during hearing - determination of appropriate penalty – costs Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 76A(1)(a), 121B , 125 Crimes Sentencing Procedure Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A, 22 and 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, ss 257B and 257G Fines Act 1996, s 6 Native Vegetation Act 2003 Wingecarribee Local Environmental Plan 2010, cls 2.3, 5.8, 5.9, 7.3 Cases Cited: Alameddine v The Queen [2006] NSWCCA 317 Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority [2001] NSWCCA 280; (2001) 115 LGERA 304 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Cessnock City Council v Bimbadgen Estate Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 140 Cessnock City Council v Quintaz [2010] NSWLEC 3; (2010) 172 LGERA 52 Chief Executive of Environment and Heritage v Humphries [2013] NSWLEC 213; (2012) 186 LGERA 442 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Kennedy [2012] NSWLEC 159 Corbyn v Walker Corporation [2012] NSWLEC 75; (2012) 156 LGERA 442 Council of the Municipality of Kiama v Furlong [2009] NSWLEC 139 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson [2015] NSWLEC 110 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 119; (2012) 186 LGERA 442 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 65 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 Queanbeyan City Council (No 3) [2012] NSWLEC 220; (2012) 225 A Crim R 113 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Fairfield City Council v Hanna [2007] NSWLEC 343 Garrett On Behalf of the Director-General of the Department of Conservation and Environment v House [2006] NSWLEC 492 Garrett v Williams [2007] NSWLEC 56 Gittany Constructions Pty Limited v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Gore v The Queen; Hunter v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 330; (2010) 208 A Crim R 353 Harrison v Perdikaris [2015] NSWLEC 99 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen [2010] HCA 45; (2010) 242 CLR 520 Hurstville City Council v Naumcevski [2011] NSWLEC 226 Ku-ring-gai Council v Abroon [2011] NSWLEC 1 Lane Cove Council v Wu [2011] NSWLEC 43 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mosman Municipal Council v Menai Excavations Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 132; (2002) 122 LGERA 89 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39; (2011) 244 CLR 120 North Sydney Council v Perini (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 91 Pittwater Council v Scahill [2009] NSWLEC 12; (2009) 165 LGERA 289 Plath v Hunter Valley Property Management Pty Ltd [2010] NSWLEC 264 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council v Notley (No 2) [2013] NSWLEC 220 R v Morgan (1993) 70 A Crim R 368 R v Olbrich [1999] HCA 54; (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Storey [1998] 1 VR 359; (1996) 89 A Crim R 519 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Regina v Daetz; Regina v Wilson [2003] NSWCCA 216; (2003) 139 A Crim R 398 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Boggabri Coal Pty Limited [2014] NSWLEC 154 Siganto v R [1998] HCA 74; (1998) 194 CLR 656 The Council of the Municipality of Kiama v Pacific Real Estate (Warilla) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 191 Veen v The Queen (No 2) [1988] HCA 14; (1988) 164 CLR 465 Veen v The Queen [1979] HCA 7; (1979) 143 CLR 458 Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Category: Sentence Parties: Wingecarribee Shire Council (Prosecutor) Paul Gerard O'Shanassy (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Howard SC (Prosecutor) Mr M Pesman SC and Ms C Novak (Defendant)