Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Mackenzie [2018] NSWLEC 99

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Grafil Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Mackenzie [2018] NSWLEC 99 Hearing dates: 12-16 February, 19-23 February 2018, 26-28 February, 1-2 March 2018, 12-16 March 2018 Decision date: 28 June 2018 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See pars 573 and 575 Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCE – plea of not guilty to charge of operating waste facility without lawful authority – no waste deposited on land in charge period – no requirement to hold an environment protection licence – no requirement to hold development consent – defendant not guilty

ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCE – plea of not guilty to charge of executive liability of operating waste facility without lawful authority – director of corporation – no basis for finding of guilt

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – definition of "waste" under Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – legal effect of resource recovery exemptions issued under Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 – instruments to be given practical interpretation – instruments to be construed against drafter – use of extrinsic material relevant to context Legislation Cited: Batch Process Recovered Fines Exemption 2010 cll 10, 11 Cement Fibre Board Exemption (2008) Continuous Process Recovered Fines Exemption 2010 cll 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Crimes Act 1900 s 417A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 s 247J Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Pt 3A, s 150 Evidence Act 1995 s 38, 136 Excavated Natural Material Exemption 2012 cll 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 Hunter Water (Special Areas) Regulation 2003 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, (entered into force (except Article 41): 23 March 1976) Interpretation Act 1987 ss 33, 34 Motor Dealers Act 1974 s 47A Port Stephens Local Environmental Plan 2000 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 Pt 7, Pt 8.3, ss 3, 5, 48, 143, 144, 169, 191, 203, 216, 258, 286, Sch 1, Dictionary Protection of the Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2005 cll 3B, 42, 51, 51A Recovered Aggregate Exemption (2010) Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1997 s 18 Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2003 Virgin Excavated Natural Material Exemption Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act 2001 ss 3, 6, 12 Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Awabakal Local Aboriginal Land Council v Minister Administering the Crown Lands Act [2008] NSWLEC 124 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v Ko-veda Holiday Park Estate Ltd [2008] NSWLEC 181 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v Ko-veda Holiday Park Estate Ltd (2009) 167 LGERA 395; [2009] NSWCA 160 Baulkham Hills Shire Council v O'Donnell (1990) 69 LGERA 404 Beckwith v R (1976) 135 CLR 569 Blacktown City Council v Pace (2002) 121 LGERA 432; [2002] NSWLEC 142 Brown v Dunne (1893) 6 R 67 Bunderra Holdings Pty Ltd v Pasminco Cockle Creek Smelter Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCA 263; (2017) 226 LGERA 54 Chugg v Pacific Dunlop Ltd (1990) 170 CLR 249; [1990] HCA 41 Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427; [1994] HCA 15 Commonwealth v Baume (1905) 2 CLR 405; [1905] HCA 11 Cooper Brookes (Wollongong) Pty Ltd v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 147 CLR 297; [1981] HCA 26 CSR Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (2000) 110 LGERA 334; [2000] NSWCCA 373 Director of Public Prosecutions v Sadler [2013] NSWSC 718 Dowling v Bowie (1952) 86 CLR 136; [1952] HCA 63 Environment Protection Authority v Foxman Environmental Development Services [2015] NSWLEC 105 Environment Protection Authority v Hardt (2006) 148 LGERA 61; [2006] NSWLEC 438 Environment Protection Authority v HTT Huntley Heritage Pty Ltd (2003) 125 LGERA 332; [2003] NSWLEC 76 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd & Page [2012] NSWLEC 216 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd (2013) 84 NSWLR 679; [2013] NSWCCA 180 Environment Protection Authority v Terrace Earthmoving Pty Ltd (No 3) (2016) 217 LGERA 222; [2016] NSWLEC 50 Environment Protection Authority v Bathurst City Council (1995) 89 LGERA 79 Foodbarn Pty Ltd v Solicitor General (1975) 32 LGRA 157 Gill v Donald Humberstone & Co Ltd [1963] 3 All ER 180 Griffiths v The Trustees of the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Fund [2012] NSWCA 231 Hardt v Environment Protection Authority (2007) 156 LGERA 337; [2007] NSWCCA 338 Harrison v Melhem (2008) 72 NSWLR 380; [2008] NSWCA 67 House of Peace Pty Ltd v Bankstown City Council (2000) 48 NSWLR 498; [2000] NSWCA 44 IW v City of Perth (1997) 191 CLR 1; [1997] HCA 30 James Hardie Industries NV v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2009] NSWCA 18 MWJ v The Queen (2005) 80 ALJR 329; [2005] HCA 74 Office of Fair Trading v El Homsi (2009) 74 NSWLR 443; [2009] NSWSC 282 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 Pullen v Smedley [2017] NSWSC 1721 Royal Agricultural Society of NSW v Sydney City Council (1987) 61 LGRA 305 Shannongrove Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (2013) 84 NSWLR 668; [2013] NSWCCA 179 Valuer-General v Fivex Pty Ltd (2015) 206 LGERA 450 [2015] NSWCA 53 Vines v Djordjevitch (1955) 91 CLR 512; [1955] HCA 19 Walsh v Tattersall (1996) 188 CLR 77; [1996] HCA 26 Westfield Management Ltd v Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd [2006] NSWCA 245 Texts Cited: Macquarie Dictionary Online (2017) Pearce & Argument, Delegated Legislation in Australia (4th ed, 2012, LexisNexis Butterworths) Pearce & Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (8th ed, 2014, LexisNexis Butterworths Category: Principal judgment Parties: Proceedings 16/157886 Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Grafil Pty Ltd (Defendant)