Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Grant Wesley Turnbull [2017] NSWLEC 141

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Grant Wesley Turnbull [2017] NSWLEC 141 Hearing dates: 26, 27, 28 April and 1, 2 May 2017 Date of orders: 24 October 2017 Decision date: 24 October 2017 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Preston CJ Decision: (1) Mr Grant Wesley Turnbull is convicted of the offence as charged. (2) Mr Turnbull is fined $315,000. (3) Mr Turnbull is to pay the prosecutor's costs of the proceedings in the amount as may be determined under s 257G of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986. Catchwords: OFFENCES AND PENALTIES – sentence – clearing of native vegetation – objective seriousness of offence – substantial environmental harm caused – clearing pre-meditated and intentional – clearing done for financial gain – foreseeable risk of environmental harm – practical measures to prevent risk of harm – control over causes of harm – offence in middle of range of objective seriousness – subjective circumstances of offender – no prior convictions – prior good character – late plea of guilty – contesting sentencing facts – low utilitarian value of plea – no genuine remorse for offence or consequences – fine and costs order – not established unable to pay both Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 21A, 22(1) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 246(1)(a), 257G(b) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 125A, 125B and 125C, 126 Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment Act 2014 Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2000 Sch 7, cl 44 Fines Act 1996 ss 3, 4(1), 6 Native Vegetation Act 2003 ss 3, 6(1), 7, 11, 12, 22, Div 3 of Pt 3 Native Vegetation Regulation 2013 cl 26 Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 s 6(2) Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd (2006) 145 LGERA 234; [2006] NSWLEC 34 Cabonne Shire Council v Environment Protection Authority (2001) 115 LGERA 304; [2001] NSWCCA 280 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 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 Newbigging [2013] NSWLEC 144 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet v Powell [2012] NSWLEC 129 Corbyn v Walker Corporation Pty Ltd (2012) 186 LGERA 442; [2012] NSWLEC 75 Council of the City of Sydney v Adams [2015] NSWLEC 206 Director General of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Graymarshall (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 149 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 243 FLR 28; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Director of Public Prosecutions (VIC) v OJA (2007) 172 A Crim R 181 Director of Public Prosecutions v Dalgliesh (a pseudonym) [2017] HCA 41 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 4) [2011] NSWLEC 119 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (2009) 165 LGERA 256; [2009] NSWLEC 4 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Taylor (No 4) (2002) 120 LGERA 414; [2002] NSWLEC 59 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hudson v Director-General, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (2012) 187 LGERA 207; [2012] NSWCCA 92 Josefski v R [2010] NSWCCA 41 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Morton v R [2014] NSWCCA 8 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Borkowski (2009) 195 A Crim R 1; [2009] NSWCCA 102 R v Campbell [2014] NSWCCA 102 R v Derbas [2003] NSWCCA 44 R v Hayes [2001] NSWCCA 410 R v Morabito (1992) 62 A Crim R 82 R v Pham (2015) 256 CLR 550; [2015] HCA 39 R v Rahme (1989) 43 A Crim R 81 R v Stahl [1999] NSWCCA 160 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 R v Wisbey [2001] NSWCCA 434 Rummery v Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage (2014) 201 LGERA 428; [2014] NSWCCA 106 Turnbull and Another v Director General, Office of Environment and Heritage (2014) 212 LGERA 163; [2014] NSWLEC 84 Turnbull v Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage (2017) 223 LGERA 81; [2017] NSWCA 161 Walker Corporation Pty Ltd v Director-General of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (2012) 82 NSWLR 12; [2012] NSWCCA 210 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Category: Sentence Parties: Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Grant Wesley Turnbull (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Howard SC with Mr D K Jordan (Prosecutor) Mr T Alexis SC with Ms H Irish (Defendant)