Environmental and Planning Approvals

A large proportion of our practice is directed at planning and environmental approvals. Our work generally covers advising on the types of developments that can be approved and the process for approval; securing development approvals and construction certificates; defending and/or modifying developments that have been approved and determining what has been approved in the first place.

Another major area of work is environmental law and licensing – including those under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, administered by the Environment Protection Authority – as well as dangerous goods licenses and waste disposal licenses. We determine whether a license is required, obtain environment protection licenses, and defend prosecutions for alleged breaches of environment protection licenses or environmental laws.

Prosecutions for offences under environmental legislation are criminal prosecutions and we have represented a number of key clients in the Law and Environment Court in respect of these prosecutions.