Environment and Planning

Practice Profile

Our environment and planning team has a wealth of experience in all aspects of planning and development having acted extensively for a number of major local government authorities as well as developers and building owners and land professionals such as architects, town planners and surveyors.

This exposure at all levels of the planning arena ensures that our team has a detailed insight into the perspectives of all parties and can therefore advise constructively and effectively with an understanding of all the issues that could arise.

All team members have a broad range of advocacy skills and often appear in court without the assistance of counsel. With the confidence of years of experience the team are well placed to provide practical and effective advice to assist clients to move matters forward in a cost effective manner.

Our close association with organisations such as the Urban Development Institute, the Heritage Council, the Australian Property Institute and the Planning Institute ensures our team are up to date with the ever changing law and practice in this area.

Practice Strengths

Our comprehensive range of services includes:

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Advising on all aspects of town planning, including Land and Environment Court appeals, environmental law issues and heritage, including enforcement and prosecution actions in appropriate cases.

Local Government

As advisors to a number of local government authorities we have a detailed understanding of the law in this area and our expertise extends across the full range of governance issues such as meeting procedures, probity and tendering. In addition, we regularly conduct local government prosecutions and enforcement matters. The team is able to provide advice on all cognate legislation related to the Local Government Act including licensing, easements, and acquisitions.

Heritage Issues

The team has particular involvement in heritage issues and works closely with heritage bodies and professionals to achieve mediated results for a range of clients. Team members are actively involved in all aspects of heritage from academic to practical application. The range of experience on all levels of heritage involvement puts the team at the forefront on all matters heritage and their valued opinion is often sought by government bodies and professionals.

Environmental Protection

We regularly advise on issues associated with the Protection of the Environment Operations Act, Threatened Species Act and similar legislation for environmental protection. Under all these legislations the team has extensive experience to act on urgent injunctions at short notice with successful results.

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Executive Lawyers and Consultants

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