I specialise in environment and planning law and have extensive experience in providing advice to government and private clients in the Land and Environment Court of NSW on appeals against refusals of development applications, compulsory acquisition proceedings, judicial review proceedings, criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement matters. I regularly provide seminars to Councils on the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and The Local Land Services Act 2013. I have also given seminars to Councils on drafting and enforcing orders issued under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 and the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1979 and the evidence required for prosecutions.
Experience
Advising local authorities and government corporations in relation to:
- the available enforcement options under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 and for non-compliance with development consent and unlawful building work
- the validity of orders and notices issued by Council
- approvals required by Council for upgrade works to Council’s city accommodation
- the options available to appeal against deemed refusal of development application
- voluntary planning agreements
- the validity of conditions of consent and options to challenge conditions of consent
- whether a proposed modification application meets the “substantially the same” test under section 96 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
- whether development can be carried out under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 as exempt or complying development
- breaches of the Heritage Act 1977
- defending an applicant’s motion
- Class 1 proceedings against Council’s refusal/deemed refusal to grant development consent for residential flat buildings, subdivision, shop top housing, seniors living and building certificates.
Expertise
- Environment and planning law
Roles, memberships and education
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law, Sydney, 2012
- Bachelor of Law, University of Western Sydney, 2012
- Bachelor of Arts, University of Western Sydney, 2012
- LLB Masters Level Exchange Program, 2010