Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Environment Protection Authority v Hughes [2019] NSWLEC 108 Hearing dates: 3 July 2019 Date of orders: 31 July 2019 Decision date: 31 July 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 5 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [188]. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: unlawful transport and disposal of waste – pleas of guilty – sentencing principles – application of De Simoni principle – relevance of offender's state of mind where De Simoni applies – calculation of volume of waste deposited – actual environmental harm caused by the commission of the offence – potential environmental harm caused by commission of offences – offences committed intentionally – offences committed for financial gain – no prior convictions – no apology – cost of remediation substantial – appropriateness of extent of publication order – application of totality principle – monetary penalty imposed – remediation order made – publication order made. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999, ss 3A, 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986, s 257B Environmental Trust Act 1998 Protection of Environment Operations (Waste) Regulation 2014, cll 6, 13 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 3, 115, 143, 144, 245, 248, 250(1)(e) Cases Cited: Axer Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 113 LGERA 357 Bankstown City Council v Hanna [2014] NSWLEC 152; (2014) 205 LGERA 39 Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Limited [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Chief Executive, Office of Environment & Heritage v Orica Pty Ltd; Environment Protection Authority v Orica Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 109 Environment Protection Authority v Alcobell Pty Ltd, Environment Protection Authority v Campbell [2015] NSWLEC 123 Environment Protection Authority v Ashmore [2014] NSWLEC 136 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Environment Protection Authority v Causmag Ore Company Pty Ltd [2015] NSWLEC 58 Environment Protection Authority v Dib Hanna Abdallah Hanna [2018] NSWLEC 80 Environment Protection Authority v Geoff Robinson Pty Ltd [2011] NSWLEC 14 Environment Protection Authority v Gilder [2018] NSWLEC 119 Environment Protection Authority v Hanna [2010] NSWLEC 98 Environment Protection Authority v Orica (the Nitric Acid Air Lift Incident) [2014] NSWLEC 103; (2014) 206 LGERA 239 Environment Protection Authority v Rands [2019] NSWLEC 23 Environment Protection Authority v Shannongrove Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 202 Environment Protection Authority v Smart Skip (NSW) Pty Ltd [2009] NSWLEC 204 Environment Protection Authority v Sydney Water Corporation [2019] NSWLEC 100 Environment Protection Authority v Warkworth Mining Limited [2017] NSWLEC 107; (2017) 227 LGERA 145 Environment Protection Authority v Waste Recycling and Processing Corporation [2006] NSWLEC 419; (2006) 148 LGERA 299 Harris v Harrison [2014] NSWCCA 84; (2014) 86 NSWLR 422 Kyluk Pty Ltd v Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage [2013] NSWCCA 114 Liverpool City Council v Leppington Pastoral [2010] NSWLEC 170 Markarian v The Queen [2005] HCA 25; (2005) 228 CLR 357 Mulvihill v R [2016] NSWCCA 259 Newcastle City Council v Pace Farm Egg Products Pty Ltd [2002] NSWLEC 66 Plath v Rawson [2009] NSWLEC 178; (2009) 170 LGERA 253 R v De Simoni [1981] HCA 31; (1981) 147 CLR 383 R v MAK; R v MSK [2006] NSWCCA 381; (2006) 167 A Crim R 159 R v Thomson; R v Houlton [2000] NSWCCA 309; (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 The Hills Shire Council v Kinnarney Civil & Earthworks Pty Ltd & Kinnarney (No 2) [2012] NSWLEC 95 Water NSW v Barlow [2019] NSWLEC 30 Texts Cited: Category: Sentence Parties: Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor) Thomas Hughes (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms C Winnett (Prosecutor) Mr P Tomasetti SC with Mr J Johnson (Defendant)