Environment Protection Authority v Pullinger

[2022] NSWLEC 143

Land and Environment Court

New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation:

Environment Protection Authority v Pullinger [2022] NSWLEC 143

Hearing dates:

28 and 29 March 2022

Date of orders:

2 December 2022

Decision date:

02 December 2022

Jurisdiction:

Class 5

Before:

Pepper J

Decision:

See orders at [63].

Catchwords:

ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES: defendant charged with breach of clean-up notice offence in summons – whether summons was duplicitous – whether the activity the subject of the offence as charged constitutes a continuing offence – whether the activity the subject of the offence as charged constitutes a single criminal enterprise – summons not bad for duplicity.

Legislation Cited:

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 64(1), 91, 92, 101, 102, 110, 120

Cases Cited:

Environment Protection Authority v Charlotte Pass Snow Resort Pty Ltd [2021] NSWCCA 289; (2021) 250 LGERA 362

Environment Protection Authority v Riverina Australia Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCCA 165; (2015) 90 NSWLR 57

Environment Protection Authority v Truegain Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCCA 204; (2013) 85 NSWLR 125

Hamzy v R (1994) 74 A Crim R 341

Hannes v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (No 2) [2006] NSWCCA 373; (2006) 165 A Crim R 151

Hedberg v Woodhal [1913] HCA 2; (1913) 15 CLR 531

Johnson v Miller [1937] HCA 77; (1937) 59 CLR 467

Kiangatha Holdings Pty Ltd v Water NSW [2020] NSWCCA 263; (2020) 247 LGERA 1

S v The Queen [1989] HCA 66; (1989) 168 CLR 266

Secretary, Department of Planning and Environment v Sell & Parker Pty Ltd [2019] NSWLEC 48

Snowy Monaro Regional Council v Tropic Asphalts Pty Ltd [2018] NSWCCA 202; (2018) 362 ALR 359

Walsh v Tattersall [1996] HCA 26; (1996) 188 CLR 77

Category:

Principal judgment

Parties:

Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor)
Robert Leonard Pullinger (Defendant)

Representation:

Counsel:
F Berglund (Prosecutor)
L Sims (Defendant)

Solicitors:
Environment Protection Authority (Prosecutor)
N/A (Defendant)

File Number(s):

2020/327089
2020/327090
2020/327091

Publication restriction:

Nil

JUDGMENT

Pullinger Files Notices of Motion Seeking to Set Aside Summonses

1. In three separate amended summonses filed on 29 March 2022, Robert Pullinger is charged with offences against ss 91(5) and 102 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (“the POEOA”) committed at 62 Kyle Street, Rutherford NSW (“the property”), as follows:

1. one count of failing to comply with condition 7, from 31 August 2018 to 16 November 2020, in respect of Clean-Up Notice 11548804 issued 5 June 2017 (“the notice”), as varied by the Notice of Variation of Clean-Up Notice 1564650 issued 18 May 2018 (“the varied notice”) (matter 2020/327089);

2. one count of failing to comply with a prohibition notice, issued pursuant to s 101 of the POEOA, by the Honourable Matt Kean MP, Minister for Energy and Environment on 25 August 2020 (“the prohibition notice”) from 25 August to 16 November 2020 (matter 2020/327091) (“the prohibition notice offence”); and

3. one count of failing to comply with condition 10 of the varied notice from 31 August 2018 to 16 November 2020…