If you are a property owner in South East Queensland, you should consider whether you need to make a submission on the: result of your property’s Koala Habitat Map Report (if your property has been developed) by 22 December 2019; and Draft SEQ Koala Conservation Strategy 2019 – 2024 (Draft Strategy) by 31 January 2020. … Read more
The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has announced the NSW Government’s new approach for precinct planning in Greater Sydney. The Minister stated that the new precinct planning framework would clear the decks of planning proposals stuck in the system, refocus the State’s planning efforts and empower local councils to plan strategically. Read more
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has provided insights into relevant considerations for proposed solar farms in three recent decisions, in which three of the five projects considered were refused. Read more
The NSW Government has introduced the Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Territorial Limits) Bill 2019 (NSW) (Bill) into the NSW Parliament. The Bill proposes to prohibit conditions of consent which would regulate downstream greenhouse gas emissions. Read more
The NSW Government has introduced the Design and Building Practitioners Bill 2019 (Bill) to the NSW Parliament. The Bill responds to the Building Confidence report dated February 2018 by Professor Peter Shergold and Ms Bronwyn Weird (Report). The Report addressed the compliance and enforcement issues faced by the building and construction industry in NSW following serious defects with newly built apartment towers in Sydney. Read more
A new Bill introduced into the Victorian Parliament seeks to update the habitat compensation arrangements within Melbourne’s growth corridors, providing additional funding to support State government acquisition of land for conservation area reserves given increases in land values. Read more
Proponents of new and expansion coal mine projects face increased scrutiny to facilitate ecologically sustainable development and ensure that the cost of environmental effects is not disproportionately borne by future generations. We explore the refusal of an open cut and underground coal mine in Bylong Valley, NSW. Read more
Wind energy facility proponents should take note of recent developments in the regulation of noise impacts from wind energy facilities in Victoria, which signal increased scrutiny of noise impacts from operations. Read more
Climate change considerations have been pivotal to a recent State Administrative Tribunal decision in Western Australia: Two Rocks Investments Pty Ltd and Western Australian Planning Commission [2019] WASAT 59. This decision is the first of its kind in Western Australia. Read more
