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A partner in our Gold Coast real estate division, Michelle is an environment and planning law specialist who has played a significant role in some of the area’s largest projects.
Working across the tourism and leisure, infrastructure, government and real estate sectors, Michelle assists clients to achieve environment and planning approval and compliance and also acts in planning dispute resolution matters.
Michelle’s expertise encompasses project approval strategies; development application assessment and approval processes; planning instrument preparation; infrastructure planning and agreements; planning appeals; and declaratory and enforcement proceedings.
Michelle has been involved in numerous greenfield, urban renewal and infrastructure projects, including those which have established the blueprint for successful constraints-based planning.
In addition to her work with corporate clients, Michelle has extensive experience acting for government entities.
Michelle is a Member of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Gold Coast Logan Branch Communications & Legislation Committee) and member of the Queensland Environmental Law Association. She is also an adjunct Assistant Professor of Law at Bond University where she is the course coordinator and lecturer in Planning and Development Law.
Areas of expertise include:
Michelle provides specialist environment and planning advice on energy and resource projects. Her experience includes advising on due diligence, project approvals and environmental compliance.
Michelle has advised Australia’s second largest local government for more than a decade in relation to development assessment, strategic planning, drafting of planning instruments and planning appeals and enforcement litigation in the Planning and Environment Court. She has advised the State Government of Queensland in relation to infrastructure divestment, preparation of land use planning instruments and regulated transfer due diligence in respect of key infrastructure assets.
Michelle has advised both local and State government on planning and environmental aspects of infrastructure delivery, including transport infrastructure, bulk water and sewerage infrastructure delivery. She has advised the State Government of Queensland in relation to infrastructure divestment, preparation of land use planning instruments and regulated transfer due diligence in respect of key infrastructure assets.
Michelle has advised both local and State government on planning and environmental aspects of infrastructure delivery, including transport infrastructure, bulk water infrastructure, sewerage infrastructure and infrastructure funding. She has advised the State Government of Queensland in relation to infrastructure divestment, preparation of land use planning instruments and regulated transfer due diligence in respect of key infrastructure assets.
Michelle has extensive experience in advising on environment and planning requirements for major project delivery; with such projects necessitating a deep understanding of the critical interaction between major project legislation and planning legislation. She has particular expertise in large scale mixed use and urban renewal projects.
Michelle advises on environment and planning approvals in the context of due diligences, project establishment and operational compliance. She has deep expertise and experience in both procedural and assessment requirements for development applications and lectures in the area as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Planning and Development Law at Bond Unviersity.
Michelle has provided specialist environment and planning advice in respect of ports. Her experience includes advising the State Government of Queensland in relation to land use planning for the Port of Brisbane. She has extensive experience in coastal planning including in respect of tidal works, flood constraints and risk management.