Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Drum Machinery Pty Ltd (No 4) [2016] NSWLEC 59

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Drum Machinery Pty Ltd (No 4) [2016] NSWLEC 59 Hearing dates: 16, 17, 18 June 201429, 30 September 20141,2,3,7,8 October 20144 December 2014 Date of orders: 01 June 2016 Decision date: 01 June 2016 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Craig J Decision: (1) In proceedings 2016/158256 (13/50010) I record plea of guilty entered by the defendant on 29 September 2014. (2) In proceedings 2016/158257 (13/50011) I find the defendant guilty of the offence that between 24 January 2012 and 8 March 2012, at or near St Marys in the State of New South Wales, he committed an offence against s 91(5) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) by reason of s 169(1) of that Act in that: (a) he was a director of Sydney Drum Machinery Pty Ltd (ACN: 102625507); and (b) that Company was given a clean-up notice and did not comply with that clean-up notice without reasonable excuse.

(3) In proceedings 2016/158258 (13/50012) I find the defendant guilty as charged. (4) In proceedings 2016/158195 (13/50007) I order that the summons be dismissed. (5) In proceedings 2016/158196 (13/50008) I order that the summons be dismissed. (6) In proceedings 2016/158197 (13/50009) I order that the summons be dismissed. (7) In proceedings 2016/158256 (13/50010), 2016/158257 (13/50011) and 2016/158258 (13/50012) I order that the proceedings be stood over to Friday 24 June 2016 for directions and to fix a date for hearing on sentence. Catchwords: OFFENCES – prosecution – liquid waste pollution incidents – failure to comply with issued clean-up notices – pleas of not guilty – whether regulatory authority reasonably suspected pollution incident – whether notice directions sufficiently related to pollution incident – whether notice terms sufficiently clear – whether regulatory authority failed to take into account certain considerations in issuing notices – whether notice legally invalid due to unreasonableness – whether reasonable excuse for failure to comply – whether due diligence exercised to prevent failure to comply. Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Environmental Trust Act 1998 (NSW) Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) Cases Cited: Corporate Affairs Commission (NSW) v Yuill [1991] HCA 28; 172 CLR 319 Environment Protection Authority v Multi-Fill Pty Ltd (1997) 93 LGERA 131 George v Rockett [1990] HCA 26; 170 CLR 104 Goldie v Commonwealth of Australia [2002] FCA 433; 117 FCR 566 Lismore City Council v Ihalainen [2013] NSWLEC 149; 198 LGERA 47 Liverpool City Council v Cauchi [2005] NSWLEC 675; 145 LGERA 1 McKinnon v Secretary, Department of Treasury [2006] HCA 45; 228 CLR 423 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Ltd [1986] HCA 40; 162 CLR 24 Minister for Immigration and Border Protection v Singh [2014] FCAFC 1; 231 FCR 437 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v Li [2013] HCA 18; 249 CLR 332 New South Wales v Hunt [2014] NSWCA 47 Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd v Newcastle City Council [2006] NSWCCA 403; 151 LGERA 260 Queensland Bacon Pty Ltd v Rees [1966] HCA 21; 115 CLR 266 Ruddock v Taylor [2005] HCA 48; 222 CLR 612 R v Rondo [2001] NSWCCA 540; 126 A Crim R 562 Ryding v Kempsey Shire Council [2008] NSWLEC 306 SD v New South Wales Crime Commission [2013] NSWCA 48; 84 NSWLR 456 Sean Investments Pty Ltd v MacKellar [1981] FCA 191; 38 ALR 363 Taikato v The Queen [1996] HCA 28; 106 CLR 454 Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2016/158195-158197 (50007-50009 of 2013) Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Sydney Drum Machinery Pty Ltd (Defendant)