The NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) (collectively, the Prosecutor) have secured their biggest fine for a prosecution in the Land & Environment Court. Justice Robson fined the Clarence Colliery Pty Ltd $1.05 million for two offences: $720,000 for breaching section 116(1)(a) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act…

On 30 June 2017, the NSW Government released a Bill to amend the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act) to replace the idea of a ‘staged development application’ with a ‘concept development application’. The Bill is a swift response to a decision of the NSW Court of Appeal in Bay Simmer Investments Pty Ltd v State…

On Monday 17 July 2017 new planning controls for obtaining complying development approval for new 1 or 2 storey dwelling houses, including alterations and additions, begins in NSW. These changes will take effect through a new and simplified Housing Code within State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP) and are…