Expert Planning and Environment Law advice
We can help with:
Hones Lawyers are the experts in Land and Environment matters with 25+ years’ experience of representation in the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales and other relevant courts and tribunals in relation to all aspects of planning, environment and Local Government law.
Our team of land and environment court lawyers act on behalf of councils or private clients – with a 90% success rate. Our clients include developers of all sizes, ranging from small family companies (often first-time developers) to publicly listed companies, high net worth individuals, strata managers, city and regional councils, tenants, architects, town planners, engineers, building consultants, government authorities, and many others needing Land and Environment Court representation.
If combined experience is any guide on how good we are – our lawyers have a combined experience of over a century.
Our Experience in Land and Environment Court Cases
Our land lawyers have appeared in a number of high profile and land mark Land and Environment Court appeals; including challenging the Woolworths Lane Cove shopping centre development to obtaining remediation orders for the largest unlawful contaminated land fill case in NSW history. We act for and against city based and regional councils in a wide range of development and land use matters.
Unlike any other firm, our land and environment court lawyers include qualified town planners and lawyers as well as 2 Law Society accredited specialists in Local Government & Planning Law.
Over the years, our land lawyers have been involved in 1000’s of Land & Environment Court cases, many of them reported.
We have successfuly taken Land & Environment Court cases to the Court of Appeal as well as the Court of Criminal Appeal (something few other town planning law firms can boast).
We have comprehensive experience in:
Class 1 – Residential Development Appeals
Class 1 – Development Appeals
Class 8 – Mining Matters
Land and Environment Court Decisions: 90% Success Rate
We have challenged refusals of development applications, orders issued by Local Councils, unlawfully granted development consents (on behalf of concerned neighbours and resident action groups) with an unrivalled success rate.
Our success in the Land & Environment Court is based on our tenacious attitude towards understanding the case and our client. We have successfully prosecuted every Local Court matter we have been involved in and, as far as we are aware, have obtained the largest fine of its kind in NSW planning history – a fine of $500,000 – for a Local Court.
If you require the help of experienced professionals for a Land and Environment Court case, contact our team today. With over 25 years of experience and a 90% success rate, you can be confident that Hones Lawyers will deliver the desired result for you.
Land and Environment Court FAQs
What is the Land and Environment Court?
The NSW Land and Environment Court hears appeals and cases relating to environment and planning laws. The Court’s specialist jurisdiction covers merits and judicial reviews, civil enforcement, criminal prosecution, criminal appeals and civil claims involving planning, environmental, land, mining and other legislation.
What orders can the Land and Environment Court make?
The Land and Environment Court deals with civil enforcement and is concerned with restoring compliance with the law, rather than punishing those who break the law.
Orders the Court can make include Declarations (in the case of an Act being breached), Injunctions (restraining orders), Demolition orders and Remediation orders.
How much does it cost to lodge a case at the Land and Environment Court?
A filing fee needs to be paid to the Court before a case is started or an appeal is lodged. This cost depends on the type of case and whether you are an individual or corporation. Hones Lawyers will confirm the amount of the fee before proceedings are started.
Where can I find out information about easements?
If your issue relates to an easement on your property, have a look at our Easements NSW page. Easements often fall under S.88K of the Conveyancing Act and s.40 of the Land & Environment Court Act.
For more information on Land and Environment Court matters call us on 02 8318 0788.
Get In Touch
Our Process
Get In Touch
Contact us by phone or using our website enquiry form with information on your matter. Providing enough information in this part of our process will allow us to get back in touch with you regarding your options.
Meet
Whether it’s in person, over the phone or by Skype – this will allow us to ask any questions we might have regarding your matter and will allow us to build a better working relationship.
Solution
At this point we should have enough information in order build a strategy to move forward with (or in some cases, various strategies).
Our Land and Environment Court Lawyers
Jason Hones
Gavin Shapiro
Susan Hill
