Rail agencies: Brendan has advised numerous NSW rail agencies and Australian Rail Track Corporation on environmental and planning issues in respect of major rail projects and operations. In particular, Brendan acted for Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation on the Epping to Chatswood Rail Link project, and the Chatswood and Parramatta Transport Interchanges including advising on land acquisition strategies and all issues relating to the compulsory acquisition of land for the purpose of those projects. Brendan also acted in all compensation appeals and in Supreme Court proceedings challenging the validity of compensation notices for the acquisition of sub-stratum land.
RTA: Brendan is advising on environmental impact assessment (EIA) processes concerning the M5 East and M7 motorways, and EIA processes in respect of various bridge and road upgrades. Advising and acting for RTA in appeals against determinations of compensation for the acquisition of land for numerous linear road developments including North-West Transit-way, Cross City Tunnel and the Pacific, Oxley and Olympic Highways upgrade projects.
BP Australia: Brendan advises on planning, environmental and local government issues associated with the acquisition, disposal, redevelopment and decommissioning of BP facilities in NSW and ACT, and advises in relation to contamination of land and statutory obligations to report the contamination, and investigation of environmental incidents.
Contamination of land: Brendan has advised a large number of corporate and government clients on land contamination and remediation issues including obligations to report contaminated sites and site audit processes. In particular, Brendan regularly advises on contamination issues in the context of the disposal or acquisition of industrial sites, and has acted in some of the largest brownfield redevelopments in NSW (Rhodes Peninsula, NSW and former BHP Billiton lands at Newcastle, NSW). Clients include Multiplex, BP Australia, Toyota, Origin Energy, AGL, Alcoa, Boral, Barloworld, HRL, Syngenta and various financial institutions and State government agencies.
Climate change: Brendan currently heads the Clayton Utz team appointed to advise the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change on the design and implementation of the proposed emissions trading scheme, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. Brendan also advises private sector and government clients on reporting obligations under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme, and trading in carbon and other green rights.
Other government agencies: Brendan has advised numerous NSW government agencies on environmental and planning law issues, their statutory powers and functions and administrative decision making processes. Clients include Centennial and Moore Park Trust, EnergyAustralia, Integral Energy, TransGrid, NSW Rural Fire Service, Office of the Coordinator General, Olympic Coordination Authority, Sydney Olympic Park Authority, Sydney Water Corporation, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Sydney Ports Corporation, Newcastle Port Corporation, Regional Land Management Corporation, Hunter Development Corporation, Departments of Planning and Commerce, and the Casino Control Authority.
