Council of the City of Shoalhaven v Wilson

Land and Environment Court New South Wales Case Name:  Council of the City of Shoalhaven v Wilson Medium Neutral Citation:  [2015] NSWLEC 93 Hearing Date(s):  1 June 2015 Decision Date:  5 June 2015 Jurisdiction:  Class 5 Before:  Pain J Decision:  1. The Defendant is convicted of the offence as charged. 2. The Defendant is fined $8,400 to be paid to the Registrar of the Court within 28 days of today's date. 3. The Defendant must pay the Prosecutor’s costs as agreed or assessed. 4. The exhibits are to be returned. Catchwords:  ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES – sentence following plea of guilty – lopping or injuring of trees on Crown reserve without consent in breach of tree preservation order – offence committed deliberately – whether moral culpability of defendant reduced because of his mental health and intoxication – mitigating circumstances considered Legislation Cited:  Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 ss 3A, 21A, 22 Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 5, 76A, 125, 126 Fines Act 1996 ss 6, 10 Shoalhaven Local Environmental Plan 1985 cl 2 Cases Cited:  Bentley v BGP Properties Pty Ltd [2006] NSWLEC 34; (2006) 145 LGERA 234 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 47; (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Camilleri's Stock Feeds Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (1993) 32 NSWLR 683 Director of Public Prosecutions v De La Rosa [2010] NSWCCA 194; (2010) 205 A Crim R 1 Environment Protection Authority v Hochtief AG [2006] NSWLEC 200 Environment Protection Authority v Barnes [2006] NSWCCA 246 Gittany Constructions Pty...