Somerville v Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage [2020] NSWCCA 93

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Somerville v Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage [2020] NSWCCA 93 Hearing dates: 20 April 2020 Decision date: 06 May 2020 Before: Johnson J at [1]; Adamson J at [2]; Bellew J at [75] Decision: (1) Extend the time for filing the notice of appeal to 2 December 2019.

(2) Dismiss the appeal.

(3) Remit the matter to the Land and Environment Court for determination. Catchwords: ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING — Offences — Prosecutions — whether commencement of criminal proceedings time barred

LIMITATION OF ACTIONS — Operation of bar — National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) s 190(1) — whether distinct limitation periods can be relied on in the alternative — whether prosecutor must elect which limitation period is relied on Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 7 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5F Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW), s 7 Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), s 9.57 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 141 National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW), ss 101, 118A, 118B, 190, 195 National Parks and Wildlife Amendment Act 2010 (NSW) Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NSW), s 42 Protection of Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW), s 199 Secret Commissions Prohibition Act 1919 (NSW), s 14 Cases Cited: Cumberland Council v Younan [2018] NSWLEC 145 Dugdale v R (1853) 1 El & B1 435 ; 118 ER 499 George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104; [1990] HCA 26 He Kaw Teh v The Queen (1985) 157 CLR 523; [1985] HCA 43 Hodgetts v. Chiltern District Council [1983] 2 AC 120 Livbuild Pty Ltd v Willoughby City Council [2017] NSWCCA 255 Morgan v Babcock & Wilcox Ltd (1929) 43 CLR 163; [1929] HCA 25 Morgans v Director of Public Prosecutions [1999] 2 Cr App R 99 R v Heath (1810) Russ & Ry 184; 168 ER 750 R v Saengsai-Or (2004) 61 NSWLR 135; [2004] NSWCCA 108 Rummery v Chief Executive, Office of Environment and Heritage [2014] NSWCCA 106; (2014) 201 LGERA 428 The Queen v A2 [2019] HCA 35; (2019) 93 ALJR 1106 Witheyman v Van Riet [2008] 2 Qd R 587; [2008] QCA 168 Texts Cited: National Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill 2010, Explanatory note New South Wales Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 1 June 2010 Peter Gillies, Criminal Law (4th ed, 1997, LBC) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Donna Somerville (Appellant) Chief Executive of the Office of Environment and Heritage (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: I Hemmings SC/J Farrell (Appellant) W Tuckey (Respondent)