Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Kurstjens; Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Topview Brisbane Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 54

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Kurstjens; Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Topview Brisbane Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 54 Hearing dates: 11 August 2016 Date of orders: 12 May 2017 Decision date: 12 May 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Sheahan J Decision: See [97] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: Unlawful clearing of native vegetation – pleas of guilty by company and individual – sentencing principles – environmental harm – other objective and subjective factors – fines imposed – costs agreed. Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Native Vegetation Act 2003 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Cameron v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 339 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environmental Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Powell [2012] NSWLEC 129 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Turnbull [2014] NSWLEC 150 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Rummery (2012) 192 LGERA 314; [2012] NSWLEC 271 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Bombala Investments Pty Ltd (2013) 199 LGERA 236; [2013] NSWLEC 185 Chief Executive, of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Newbigging [2013] NSWLEC 144 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Director General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Linklater [2011] NSWLEC 30 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 119 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (2009) 165 LGERA 256; [2009] NSWLEC 4 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137 Director-General of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Graymarshall Pty Ltd (No.2) [2011] NSWLEC 149 Environment Protection Authority v Foxman Environmental Development Services; Environment Protection Authority v Botany Building Recyclers Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Foxman (No 2) [2016] NSWLEC 120 Environment Protection Authority v Orange City Council [1995] NSWLEC 103 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation (2006) 148 LGERA 299; [2006] NSWLEC 419 Geitonia Pty Ltd v Inner West Council; Gertos v Inner West Council [2016] NSWCCA 186 Hoare v R (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Leichhardt Council v Geitonia Pty Ltd (No 7) [2015] NSWLEC 79 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Morton v R [2014] NSWCCA 8 Muldrock v R [2011] HCA 39 Newcastle Port Corporation v MS Magdalene Schiffahrtsgesellschaft MBH; Newcastle Port Corporation v Vazhnenko [2013] NSWLEC 210 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v AB [2011] NSWCCA 229 R v Borkowski (2009) 195 A Crim R 1; [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Dib [2003] NSWCCA 117 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270 [1999] HCA 54 R v O'Neill [1979] 2 NSWLR 582 R v Rahme (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 R v Rushby [1977] 1 NSWLR 594 R v Stambolis [2006] NSWCCA 56 R v Thomson, R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 The Queen v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Sentence Parties: Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Gerardus Johannes Jacobus Kurstjens (Defendant) Topview Brisbane Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr E C Muston, SC with Ms B E M Anniwell, barrister (Prosecutor) Mr S M Littlemore, QC with Ms P M Lane, barrister (Defendants) Solicitors: Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Mills Oakley Lawyers (Defendants) File Number(s): 2016/1538692016/155307