Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 158

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 158 Hearing dates: 07 December 2016 Date of orders: 09 December 2016 Decision date: 09 December 2016 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [166] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCE – sentencing – transporting building and excavation waste to place not lawfully licenced as waste facility – waste used as road base – waste subsequently removed in response to clean up notice – no ongoing environmental harm

ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCE – sentencing – mental health issues – delay – hardship to defendants – applicability of prior conviction to company on sole director Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 10, 21A, 23 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 5AE Fines Act 1996 (NSW) s 6 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 5, 48, 143, 169, 169C, 241, Dictionary Protection of the Environment Operations Amendment Act 2005 (NSW) Sch 1, cll 67, 68, 84, 85, 86, 157, 158 Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 (NSW) s 3 Cases Cited: 73 Union Street Retail Pty Ltd v Council of The City of Sydney [2016] NSWLEC 145 Bankstown City Council v Hanna (2014) 205 LGERA 39; [2014] NSWLEC 152 Cabonne Shire Council v Environmental Protection Authority (2001) 115 LGERA 304; [2001] NSWCCA 280 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Crown in the Right of New South Wales [2016] NSWLEC 147 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Ausgrid (2013) 199 LGERA 1; [2013] NSWLEC 51 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Elchiekh v R [2016] NSWCCA 225 Environment Protection Authority v Ashmore [2014] NSWLEC 136 Environment Protection Authority v Coe Drilling Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 719 Environment Protection Authority v Geoff Robinson Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2011] NSWLEC 14 Environment Protection Authority v Morgan Cement International Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 140 Environment Protection Authority v Slade [2004] NSWLEC 773 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 216 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd (2013) 84 NSWLR 679; [2013] NSWCCA 180 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd (No 3) (2016) 217 LGERA 222; [2016] NSWLEC 50 Environment Protection Authority v Wambo Coal Pty Limited (ACN: 000 668 057) [2016] NSWLEC 125 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Giourtalis v R [2013] NSWCCA 216 Gittany Constructions Pty Limited v Sutherland Shire Council (2006) 145 LGERA 189; [2006] NSWLEC 242 Keir v Sutherland Shire Council [2004] NSWLEC 754 Leichhardt Council v Geitonia Pty Ltd (No 7) [2015] NSWLEC 79 Markarian v the Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Blanco (1999) 106 A Crim R 303; [1999] NSWCCA 121 R v Donald [2013] NSWCCA 238 R v Fahda [1999] NSWCCA 267 R v Gay (2002) 49 ATR 78; [2002] NSWCCA 6 R v Paris [2001] NSWCCA 83 R v Pogson; R v Lapham; R v Martin (2012) 82 NSWLR 60; [2012] NSWCCA 225 R v Schwabegger (1997) 38 ATR 30; [1998] 4 VR 649 R v Todd (1982) 2 NSWLR 517 R v Wong (2002) 137 A Crim R 120; [2002] NSWCCA 527 Scook v R (2008) 185 A Crim R 164; [2008] WASCA 114 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Charbon Coal Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 106 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Texts Cited: Environmental Guidelines: Assessment, Classification & Management of Liquid & Non-liquid Wastes (1 July 1999, Environment Protection Agency) Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd (First Defendant) Geoffrey James Page (Second Defendant) Representation: COUNSEL: S Rushton SC (Prosecutor) T G Howard SC (First and Second Defendants)