I assist clients by providing strategic advice on the formulation and assessment of development applications in order to maximise the prospect of obtaining, defending or challenging development approvals, and the resolution of disputes arising from the development assessment and approval process.

I am experienced at managing specialist teams comprising legal counsel and expert witnesses in proceedings before the Queensland Planning and Environment Court, Land Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

Career highlights

• Whitehaven Coal: Acting for Whitehaven Coal in a mining objections hearing before the Land Court regarding the project approvals for Winchester South.
• Department of Environment and Science: Acted for the Department in a unique and complex series of related proceedings in the Planning and Environment Court concerning compliance with and the assessment of environmental authorities for large scale aquaculture projects with impacts to the Great Barrier Reef.
• Visy: Provided front end project advice on a large scale glass recycling depot, including advice on application strategy, review of development application material, responses to requests for information, advice on infrastructure charges and advice on Ministerial call-in process.
• Herston Quarter: Advising Australian Unity on infrastructure charging arrangements and development approvals required for the construction and operation of the Herston Quarter within the Herston priority development area.??
• Moreton Bay Regional Council: Acted for the Council in a suite of interrelated proceedings relating to residential subdivisions for more than 1,200 residential lots in an emerging community area. The matters required careful case management of a project team comprising numerous counsel and expert witnesses across a broad spectrum of issue including infrastructure, environmental impacts, flooding, traffic and economic need. The proceedings were heard in the Planning and Environment Court, Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, with an application for special leave to the High Court of Australia.
• Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning: Acted for the State in relation to a number of different appeals to the Planning and Environment Court concerning matters of State interest.
• Straits Gold: Acting for Straits Gold in an appeal to the Land Court against the Department's calculation of the Estimate Rehabilitation Cost for a gold mine.
• Ipswich City Council: Advising and representing the Council in appeals to the Land Court, Land Appeal Court, and Court of Appeal against the rating category used for levying rates on several sites occupied by a large format hardware retailer.
• Toowoomba Regional Council: Acting for Council in an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court against the Council's deemed refusal of a development application for a preliminary approval varying the effect of the planning scheme for an approximately 500 lot residential development in Glenvale. Key issues relate to the proximity to an active quarry and key resource area buffers (noise and air quality), and the impact on open space zoned land.
• McConaghy Properties: Advising and representing the company in an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court against the approval of a nearby shopping centre development in an out-of-centre location in Townsville. Key issues related to the centres hierarchy in Council's planning scheme, town planning and the loss of sports and recreation zoned land.
• Villa World Developments: Advising and representing the company in an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court against the infrastructure charges levied by Council in relation to a 240 lot residential subdivision in Capalaba. The key issue related to the ability to levy infrastructure charges on subsequent stages of development in circumstances where significant infrastructure had been dedicated to Council as part of the original preliminary approval.