Major Infrastructure Projects
We regularly advise on environment and planning issues associated with major infrastructure projects across Australia, including for example:
Major road
- New South Wales – The Cross City Tunnel; Westlink M7; M5 East; Pacific Highway upgrade; and the Inner West Busway.
- Victoria – Traralgon Bypass;The Melbourne City Link Project and Peninsula Link.
- Queensland – North South Bypass Tunnel; The Airport Link and Legacy Way.
Rail
- Our team advises a number of national and state-based rail agencies on an extensive range of planning and environment issues associated with major projects and ongoing railway operations. Our advice also involves assisting in the development of environmental management systems and reviewing environmental impact assessment frameworks. Some of the organisations we advise are Australian Rail Track Corporation Ltd (a Commonwealth-owned company) and RailCorp (State Government corporation offering passenger rail services within New South Wales); Queensland Rail; Pacific National; and VicTrack.
Utilities & other infrastructure
- We advise a number of electricity distributors and electricity generators in respect of environment, planning and property (nature and scope of proprietary interests) issues concerning electricity infrastructure, including litigation concerning property, planning and environment issues.
- We are advising major oil and gas operations on decommissioning obligations under both environmental and petroleum legislation.
- We advise clients on water legislation and trading.
- We are advising telecommunication companies on a range of environmental, planning and property law issues for specific sites and broader aspects of their operations.
Development of policy and legislation: The Clayton Utz Environment and Planning team of lawyers regularly advise government on the development of policy and the creation of legislation.
We also assist in the provision of advice in relation to the implementation of policy initiatives through regulation. In this context, we have drafted statutory instruments, prepared drafting instructions and otherwise assisted in the preparation of policy initiatives through regulation.
We have also assisted in the preparation of substantial pieces of legislation. In particular, we have experience in providing advice to the Australian Government in relation to the development and implementation of legislative schemes concerning land-use planning, environmental assessment and approvals, environmental protection and heritage.
Climate change: We provide advice to government and corporate clients on current and emerging policy and regulation intended to:
reduce the emission of greenhouse gases including through the use of market-based mechanisms;
increase sources of renewable energy;
encourage energy efficiency and emissions abatement projects; and
adapt to predicted climate change impacts.
Litigation and dispute resolution: We act in dispute resolution matters involving development appeals, prosecutions for environmental offences, enforcement of planning laws and valuation of land and general property litigation in specialist courts and tribunals, as well as in general proceedings. We are attuned to the value of negotiated outcomes where appropriate.
