Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Merriman [2018] NSWLEC 96

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Merriman [2018] NSWLEC 96 Hearing dates: 23 March 2018 Date of orders: 26 June 2018 Decision date: 22 June 2018 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See [58] Catchwords: SENTENCING–plea of guilty-offence of clearing native vegetation – high end of low objective seriousness – substantial mitigating factors including registration of positive covenant on property title for revegetation of substantial area of land – exercise of sentencing discretion to make order under s 10(1)(b) of Crimes (Sentencing Procedure Act 1999) – defendant discharged subject to entering into a good behaviour bond Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 10, 11, 21A, 22 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 126 Fines Act 1996 s 6 Local Land Services Amendment Act 2016 s 3 Native Vegetation Act 2003 ss 3, 12, 22, 23, 25, 44 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 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive of Office of Environment and Heritage v Turnbull [2017] NSWLEC 141 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Garrett v Freeman (No 5) (2009) 164 LGERA 287; [2009] NSWLEC 1 Garrett v Williams (2006) 160 LGERA 115; [2006] NSWLEC 785 Markarian v the Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Moseley v Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (No 2) [2017] NSWLEC 52 Pittwater Council v Scahill (2009) 165 LGERA 289; [2009] NSWLEC 12 R v Paris [2001] NSWCCA 83 R v Peel [1971] 1 NSWLR 247 R v Wickham [2004] NSWCCA 193 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Terrance Robert Merriman (Defendant) Representation: COUNSEL: Mr D Jordan (Prosecutor) Mr G Carolan (Defendant)