Chief Environmental Regulator of the Environment Protection Authority v The Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2017] NSWLEC 132

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chief Environmental Regulator of the Environment Protection Authority v The Forestry Corporation of New South Wales [2017] NSWLEC 132 Hearing dates: 21 August 2017 Date of orders: 05 October 2017 Decision date: 05 October 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [92] Catchwords: SENTENCE – offence under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) – breach of a threatened species licence – failure to conduct a thorough search for rocky outcrops – plea of guilty – offence in the middle range of objective seriousness – whether offence committed intentionally or recklessly – defendant's prior criminal record – need for general and specific deterrence Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 21A National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW), ss 2A, 133(4) (repealed), 205 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), ss 193, 194 Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 (NSW) (repealed), s 3 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environmental Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae [2009] NSWLEC 137; (2009) 168 LGERA 121 Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [2011] NSWLEC 102 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Burrangong Meat Processors Pty Ltd [2003] NSWLEC 102 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environmental Protection Authority v Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2017] NSWLEC 64 Environment Protection Authority v Forestry Commission of New South Wales [2004] NSWLEC 751 Environment Protection Authority v State of New South Wales (Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water) (2010) 174 LGERA 19; [2010] NSWLEC 67 Environment Protection Authority v Orica Australia Pty Ltd (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103; (2014) 206 LGERA 239 Environment Protection Authority v Wambo Coal Pty Limited (ACN: 000 668 057) [2016] NSWLEC 125 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Ex parte Newman; Re Fisher and McInerny [1969] 1 NSWR 538 Garret v Freeman (No 5) (2009) 164 LGERA 287; [2009] NSWLEC 1 Gittany Constructions Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 242; (2006) 145 LGERA 189 Ibbs v R (1987) 163 CLR 447; [1987] HCA 46 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Plath v O'Neill [2007] NSWLEC 553; (2007) 174 A Crim R 336 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 PF v R [2017] NSWCCA 179 R v H (1980) 3 A Crim R 53 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Veen v R (1979) 143 CLR 458 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Sentence Parties: Chief Environmental Regulator of the Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) The Forestry Corporation of New South Wales (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D K Jordan (Prosecutor) I J Hemmings SC with J McKelvey (Defendant)