On 1 March 2022 the Supreme Court of Western Australia published its decisions in the matters of Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc. v Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority [2022] WASC 58 and Conservation Council of Western Australia Inc. v Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority [2022] WASC 59. The decisions are in respect of the Conservation Council of … Read more

DWER recently published the WA Environmental Offsets Calculator and associated guidelines (Environment Offsets Metric: Quantifying Environmental Offsets in Western Australia), creating WA’s new environmental offsets metric. We provide an overview of the key points to note about the offsets metric. Read more

The Land and Environment Court of NSW has dismissed an appeal challenging the validity of the grant of development consent for the Narrabri Gas Project (Project). Read more

Following a proclamation in the Western Australian Government Gazette on 22 October 2021, a second suite of Environmental Protection Amendment Act 2020 (WA) (EP Amendment Act) provisions came into operation on 25 October 2021. Read more

The Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia has released the much anticipated ‘Final report into the destruction of Indigenous heritage sites at Juukan Gorge’. In this post, we provide an overview of the key findings and recommendations of the report. Read more

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has released a draft Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021 (NSW) for consultation. The regulation will make changes to numerous aspects of the planning system, including in relation to development applications and modifications, designated and complying development and assessments under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW). Read more

The NSW Government proposes to change the way local infrastructure contributions are levied. A new ‘land value contribution’ may be applied in certain circumstances either on the sale of developable land or on development, in addition to existing contributions. Will this potentially lead to increased complexity and act as a disincentive to development or will … Read more

On 13 May 2021, the NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues commenced a review of the Heritage Act 1977 (NSW) (Heritage Act). The proposed changes are intended to walk the fine line of making it easier and less expensive to own heritage property while also improving heritage outcomes. A tiered system for heritage protection and additional enforcement options are some of the items for consideration. The Committee is accepting submissions until 27 June 2021. Read more