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Local Government Law

Liston & Clifton are highly experienced the area of local government, environmental and planning law having acted for a number of local government councils and authorities throughout the New England area for many years. In addition, they have extensive experience acting for private and corporate clients in relation to often complicated local government, planning and environmental issues.

Local councils and other public authorities face many compliance and legislative burdens. Given the complexity of the law in this area, the experienced lawyers at Liston & Clifton have the expertise to provide expert and timely advice to local government authorities in relation to the relevant law which governs their operation. They are also able to offer advice to property owners, developers and businesses in dealing with local government authorities particularly in relation to planning and environmental issues.

Liston and Clifton can advise and assist councils, public authorities, property owners, developers and businesses on:

  • Planning appeals and planning scheme amendments.
  • All aspects of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and related legislation
  • Development applications and development consents, including staged development applications
  • Major land release projects, including zoning, development and infrastructure delivery issues
  • Residential, industrial and commercial subdivision and development
  • Drafting and interpretation of environmental planning instruments, precinct plans, development control plans, contributions plans and other statutory planning
  • Commencement and defence of civil actions.
  • Compulsory acquisition and compensation.
  • Purchase, lease and licensing of land, including crown land, and property management.
  • Contaminated land and waste management.
  • Rating, valuation and compulsory acquisition of land, including just terms compensation
  • Water law.
  • Employment law, industrial relations, OH&S and WorkCover.
  • Administrative law, including statutory procedures and local laws.
  • Intellectual property and copyright.
  • Debt collection.
  • Roads and public transport.
  • Agreements between councils and other bodies.
  • Governance including Codes of Conduct, meeting procedures and elections.
  • Privacy and freedom of information.
  • Training.

Our lawyers have extensive experience and expertise advising our clients on a range of legislation affecting planning and development including:

  • Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
  • Heritage Act 1977
  • Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1995 (Cth)
  • Contaminated Land Management Act 1997
  • Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995
  • National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974
  • Rural Fires Act 1997
  • Water Management Act 2000

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