Office of Environment and Heritage v Swansbel (Pastoral) Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 69

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Office of Environment and Heritage v Swansbel (Pastoral) Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 69 Hearing dates: 10 April 2019, 10 May 2019 Date of orders: 29 May 2019 Decision date: 29 May 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pain J Decision: See [74] of judgment Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES – sentencing – clearing of native vegetation – significant environmental harm – clearing deliberate and for financial gain – early plea of guilty – cost of compliance with remediation order not extra-curial punishment taken into account on sentence Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 17, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 ss 257B, 257G Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 s 126 Fines Act 1996 s 122 Local Government Act 1993 Dictionary Native Vegetation Act 2003 ss 3, 12 Protection of the Environment Administration Act 1991 s 6 Cases Cited: 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 the Office of Environment and Heritage v Turnbull [2017] NSWLEC 141 Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage v Turnbull (2017) 227 LGERA 290; [2017] NSWLEC 140 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 Boyle [2019] NSWLEC 54 Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage v Merriman [2018] NSWLEC 96 Director-General of the Department and Environment and Climate Change v Hudson (No 2) [2015] NSWLEC 110 Director-General of the Department of Environment and Climate Change v Rae (2009) 168 LGERA 121; [2009] NSWLEC 137 Einfeld v The Queen (2010) 200 A Crim R 1; [2010] NSWCCA 87 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hoare v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 348; [1989] HCA 33 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Plath v Rawson (2009) 170 LGERA 253; [2009] NSWLEC 178 R v Araya (2005) 155 A Crim R 555; [2005] NSWCCA 283 R v Daetz; R v Wilson (2003) 139 A Crim R 398; [2003] NSWCCA 216 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 R v Rivkin (2003) 198 ALR 400; [2003] NSWSC 447 R v Thomson; R v Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383; [2000] NSWCCA 309 R v Visconti [1982] 2 NSWLR 104 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Energy Limited; Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v AGL Upstream Infrastructure investments Pty Limited [2017] NSWLEC 2 Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Boggabri Coal [2014] NSWLEC 154 Veen v The Queen (1979) 143 CLR 458; [1979] HCA 7 Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465; [1988] HCA 14 Category: Sentence Parties: Office of Environment and Heritage (Prosecutor) Swansbel (Pastoral) Pty Ltd (Defendant) Representation: COUNSEL: D Beaufils (Prosecutor) R Ranken (Defendant)