CPD Seminar: Environmental and Planning Law Update

PRESENTERS

Naomi Simmons, Special Counsel and Accredited Specialist in Local Government and Planning Law, Sparke Helmore
Topic: “Intuitive synthesis” – balancing economic benefit and environmental impact in the Rocky Hill case.

Naomi regularly provides advice on NSW environment, planning and local government issues. She has experience in litigation in the various jurisdictions of the Land and Environment Court and has conducted merit appeals for a wide range of proposed developments, represented public authorities in judicial review and enforcement proceedings and appeared for both defendants and prosecutors in connection with alleged offences under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. Naomi has particular expertise in preparing and negotiating voluntary planning agreements and works in kind deeds and has acted for numerous clients to deliver complex arrangements for large residential subdivisions and proposed mixed-use developments.

Melanie Smith, Inhouse lawyer at Lake Macquarie City Council
Topic: Update on recent Land and Environment Court decisions

Melanie advises Council across a range of legal issues including planning and environment law, compulsory acquisition and general property law, governance, debt recovery, contracts and procurement, enforcement and compliance activity, policy development and risk management. Melanie also regularly represents Council in litigious matters in the Land and Environment Court (development appeals and prosecutions) and Local Court (prosecutions and appeals for administrative review).

Grant Long, Accredited Specialist in Planning and Environment Law and Principal at Long Legal
Topic: Tree Hugger or Tree Hacker? - What to do when good trees go bad

Grant started his professional life as a Town Planner before transitioning to working as a Lawyer focused on Planning and Environment Law. Over a 15 year period, Grant has acted in many Land & Environment Court cases and currently runs his own practice in Newcastle.

In this presentation Grant discusses what to do if your client has problems with a neighbour’s tree or hedge or your neighbour is receiving complaints about their trees from a neighbour? Thankfully there is relief available via the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006. But what are the guiding principles under this legislation? Where do you appeal to? When is a hedge a hedge? All this and more will be answered during this presentation.