Environment Protection Authority v Clarence Colliery Pty Ltd; Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Clarence Colliery Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 82

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Clarence Colliery Pty Ltd; Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Clarence Colliery Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 82 Hearing dates: 8 May 2017 Date of orders: 14 July 2017 Decision date: 14 July 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [145] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES – sentence – negligently causing the escape of coal fines slurry and coarse reject material into Blue Mountains National Park – damage to reserved land – substantial actual and likely environmental harm – environmental harm reasonably foreseeable – practical measures available to avoid offences occurring – offences in the upper range of medium objective seriousness – offender provided high degree of assistance to authorities – offender of good corporate character and remorseful – offender taken measures to prevent reoccurrence of the offences – need for both specific and general deterrence – totality principle applies – offender ordered to pay amount to Environmental Trust – offender ordered to publicise offences and sentence in newspapers – offender ordered to pay prosecutor's legal and investigation costs Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 21A Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) s 91 Environmental Trust Act 1995 (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) ss 2A, 61, 156A, 194, 203, 205 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW) ss 3, 19, 116, 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; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Burwood Council v Erector Group Pty Ltd; Burwood Council v Liverpool Developing Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 20 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 47; (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Camilleri's Stockfeeds Pty Limited v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive Office of Environment and Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Director General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Ballina Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 289; (2006) 148 LGERA 278 Environment Protection Authority v Borg Panels Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 71 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Australia Petroleum Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 8 Environment Protection Authority v CSR Building Products Limited [2008] NSWLEC 224 Environment Protection Authority v Coe Drilling Australia Pty Ltd [2005] NSWLEC 719 Environment Protection Authority v Custom Chemicals Pty Ltd [2016] NSWLEC 146 Environmental Protection Authority v Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 64 Environment Protection Authority v Gardner [1997] NSWLEC 169 Environment Protection Authority v Kitco Transport Australia Pty Limited [2013] NSWLEC 39 Environment Protection Authority v Le Dome Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 167; (2002) 125 LGERA 121 Environment Protection Authority v Robinson [2004] NSWLEC 629 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2000] NSWLEC 156 Environment Protection Authority v Warringah Golf Club Ltd (No 2) [2003] NSWLEC 222; (2003) 129 LGERA 211 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corp [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Gittany Constructions Pty Limited v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Kyluk Pty Limited v Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage [2013] NSWCCA 114; (2013) 298 ALR 532 Liverpool City Council v Maller Holdings Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 48 Pearce v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 610; [1998] HCA 57 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v Holder; R v Johnston [1983] 3 NSWLR 245 R v Thomson (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 Waldon v Hensler (1987) 163 CLR 561; [1987] HCA 54 Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (First Prosecutor) Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage (Second Prosecutor) Clarence Colliery Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: S Rushton SC (First and Second Prosecutor) T Howard SC (Defendant)