Ku-ring-gai Council v John David Chia (No 15) [2019] NSWLEC 1

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Ku-ring-gai Council v John David Chia (No 15) [2019] NSWLEC 1 Hearing dates: 16, 17, 18, 20 and 24 April; 16 and 22 May; 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 and 31 October; 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 30 November; 4 December; and further written submissions 8 and 10 December 2018 Date of orders: 31 January 2019 Decision date: 31 January 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Robson J Decision: See orders at [534] Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES – defendant alleged to have procured an offence against s 125(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) – defendant alleged to have directed the lopping of trees contrary to tree preservation order

PROSECUTION – criminal trial – defendant pleaded not guilty to environmental offence – whether established beyond reasonable doubt that defendant procured lopping of trees contrary to tree preservation order Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 351 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) s 133 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 26, 122, 125 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 20, 136, 165 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 55 Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW) ss 100Q, 100R Cases Cited: Anthony Tauszik v Gosford City Council [2006] NSWCCA 193; (2006) 146 LGERA 428 Astill v R (1992) 63 A Crim R 148 Azzopardi v The Queen (2001) 205 CLR 50; [2001] HCA 25 Canterbury City Council v Saad [2000] NSWLEC 278; (2000) 112 LGERA 107 Coffs Harbour City Council v Hickey [2004] NSWLEC 531 Conway v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 203; [2002] HCA 2 Cumberland Council v Tony Younan; Cumberland Council v Ronney Oueik; Cumberland Council v H & M Renovations Pty Ltd [2018] NSWLEC 145 Derbas v R; Rustom v R [2007] NSWCCA 118 Director-General of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water v Walker Corporation Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] NSWLEC 229 Director-General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Walker Corporation Pty Limited (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 73 Driscoll v The Queen (1977) 137 CLR 517; [1977] HCA 43 Dupas v The Queen (2012) 40 VR 182; [2012] VSCA 328 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Geitonia Pty Ltd v Inner West Council; Gertos v Inner West Council [2016] NSWCCA 186 Giorgianni v The Queen (1985) 156 CLR 473; [1985] HCA 29 Hawkesbury City Council v Johnson; Hawkesbury City Council v Johnson Property Group Pty Limited [2008] NSWLEC 138 Hornsby Shire Council v Clyne [1998] NSWLEC 269 Hornsby Shire Council v Clyne (1998) 99 LGERA 432 Houda v The State of New South Wales [2005] NSWSC 1053; (2005) Aust Torts Reports 81-816 Jenkins v The Queen [2004] HCA 57; (2004) 211 ALR 116 Kanaan v R [2006] NSWCCA 109 Ku-ring-gai Council v Edgar [2017] NSWLEC 49 Ku-ring-gai Council v John David Chia (No 10) [2018] NSWLEC 176 Ku-ring-gai Council v John David Chia (No 12) [2018] NSWLEC 184 Ku-ring-gai Council v John David Chia (No 4) [2018] NSWLEC 75 Majinski v Western Australia [2013] WASCA 10; (2013) 226 A Crim R 552 Neat Holdings Pty Ltd v Karajan Holdings Pty Ltd [1992] HCA 66; (1992) 110 ALR 449 North Sydney Council v Moline; North Sydney Council v Tomkinson (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 169 R v Apostilides (1984) 154 CLR 563; [1984] HCA 38 R v GW (2016) 258 CLR 108; [2016] HCA 6 R v Momodou [2005] 2 All ER 571; [2005] EWCA Crim 177 R v Ncanana [1948] 4 SA 399 R v Stewart (2001) 52 NSWLR 301; [2001] NSWCCA 260 Randwick City Council v Kara-Ali [2015] NSWLEC 5 Rao v Canterbury City Council [2000] NSWCCA 471, (2000) 112 LGERA 360 Seven Network Limited v News Limited [2007] FCA 1062 Stoneman v Lyons (1975) 133 CLR 550; [1975] HCA 59 The Council of the City of Gosford v Tauszik [2003] NSWLEC 354; (2003) 131 LGERA 434 The Council of the City of Gosford v Tauszik [2005] NSWLEC 183 Thomas v The Queen (1960) 102 CLR 584; [1960] HCA 2 Whitehorn v The Queen (1983) 152 CLR 657; [1983] HCA 42 Texts Cited: NSW Rural Fire Service, "10/50 Vegetation Clearing Code of Practice for New South Wales" Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ku-ring-gai Council (Prosecutor) John David Chia (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: T Howard SC with N Hammond (Prosecutor) C Steirn SC with A Djemal (April, May) and D Beaufils (October, November, December) (Defendant)