Environment Protection Authority v Tomingley Gold Operations Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLC 21

Local Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Tomingley Gold Operations Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLC 21 Hearing dates: 13-14 May 2015, 14 July 2015 Decision date: 15 October 2015 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Stewart LCM Decision: The defendant is convicted of both offences against s 120, Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 as charged. Count 1: fine of $60,000 Count 2: fine of $35,000 Order for prosecutor's costs made Publication Order made Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – environmental offences – pollute waters – planning consent requirement – water management plan – harm to environment - foreseeable harm – actual harm – general deterrence – specific deterrence – failure to disclose matter in licence variation application – principle of even-handedness – parity of sentence – publication order – consideration of assistance to authorities – aggregation of fines – totality principle Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 5, 21A, 23 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 120, 123, 241, 248, 250 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34 Environment Protection Authority v Big Island Mining Pty Ltd [2014] NSWLEC 131 Environment Protection Authority v Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 134 Environment Protection Authority v Hardt [2007] NSWLEC 284 Environment Protection Authority v MA Roche Group Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 191 Environment Protection Authority v Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 65 Environment Protection Authority v Peak Gold Mines Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 158 Environment Protection Authority v Ravensworth Operations Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 222 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242 Khanwaiz v R [2012] NSWCCA 168 R v Borkowski [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Carroll [2008] NSWCCA 218 R v Doan (2000) 50 NSWLR 115 R v El Masri [2005] NSWCCA 167 R v Thompson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 Re Attorney General's Application under s. 37 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (No. 2) [2002] NSWCCA 515 SZ v R [2007] NSWCCA 19 Veen v R (No. 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465 Texts Cited: B J Preston, "Principled Sentencing for Environmental Offences" (October 2006) H Donnelly, Z Baghizadeh, P Poletti, "Environmental Planning and Protection Offences Prosecuted in the NSW Local Court", Sentencing Trends Number 43 (November 2014), Judicial Commission of NSW Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (prosecutor) Tomingley Gold Operations Pty Ltd (defendant) Representation: Solicitors: Ms Sinclair (for the EPA) Ms Clarke, Austen Brown, Boog Solicitors (for the defendant) File Number(s): 2015/60515