Insights on land, planning and environment law.
Plain-English explanations of the issues we are asked about most, written for landowners, developers and the consultants who work alongside them.
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Planning and developmentState significant development in NSW: declaration, assessment and review
How NSW State significant development is declared, when the Independent Planning Commission is the consent authority, and how assessment and review work.
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Approvals and licensingCommonwealth environmental referrals: significant impact, timing and the 2026 transition
When an EPBC Act referral is required, how significant impact is judged, and what the 2026 reforms change for referral decisions, timing and lapsing.
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Planning and developmentNSW Development Coordination Authority: local referrals from 1 July 2026
How the NSW Development Coordination Authority handles local referrals from 1 July 2026: the 28-day clock, fees, modifications, transition and review.
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Approvals and licensingNSW biodiversity stewardship agreements: credits, title and long-term obligations
How NSW biodiversity stewardship agreements create credits, bind land and determine funding, transaction and long-term management obligations.
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Planning and developmentNSW development approval pathways: a practical map
How to classify a NSW proposal: exempt or complying development, development consent, State significant development or infrastructure, or a Part 5 activity.
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Compulsory acquisitionEarly acquisition due to hardship in NSW
When an owner of NSW land designated for acquisition may require early acquisition for hardship, when the 90-day period runs and what the evidence must show.
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Where to start
Have a live matter rather than a general question?
If you have received a refusal, notice, acquisition letter or EPA correspondence, a short preliminary call, free of charge, establishes whether it is a matter we can take on and what the next step would be.
No charge · Not legal advice
A preliminary call is a short conversation to check whether we can help, at no charge, and not legal advice. Please don't send confidential or time-sensitive material until we confirm in writing that we can act.