Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Essential Energy [2017] NSWLEC 27

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Essential Energy [2017] NSWLEC 27 Hearing dates: 6 March 2017 Date of orders: 16 March 2017 Decision date: 16 March 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See par 85 Catchwords: SENTENCE – environmental offence – plea of guilty – defendant damaged vegetation in a national park – clearing by subcontractor of defendant – extent of environmental harm – subjective factors of defendant to be taken into account – effect of timing of plea of guilty – restoration and prevention order imposed Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 17, 21A, 22, 23 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 257B Energy Services Corporations Act 1995 Electricity Supply Act 1995 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 ss 2A, 30E, 118A, 156A, 194, 199, 200 State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 State Owned Corporations Act 1989 Cases Cited: Atholwood v The Queen (1999) 109 A Crim R 465 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Cameron v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 339; [2002] HCA 6 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Coffs Harbour Hardwoods Sales Pty Ltd [2012] NSWLEC 52 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Leda Management Services Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 111 Elyard v The Queen [2006] NSWCCA 43 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 272 ALR 465; [2010] HCA 45 Mansour v The Queen (2011) 209 A Crim R 275; [2011] NSWCCA 28 Plath v Vaccount Pty Ltd t/as Tableland Timbers [2011] NSWLEC 202 R v AB [2011] NSWCCA 229 R v Araya (2005) 155 A Crim R 555; [2005] NSWCCA 283 R v Borkowski (2009) 195 A Crim R 1; [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Sharma (2002) 54 NSWLR 300; [2002] NSWCCA 142 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 Category: Sentence Parties: Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Essential Energy (Defendant) Representation: COUNSEL: R Ranken (Prosecutor) S Buchen (Defendant)