Community Housing, Disputes, Local Government, Planning and Environment, Real Estate, State Government
Known for her outcome focused and lateral thinking approach, she provides frank and practical legal advice tailored to her clients’ needs. Her expertise is complemented by her environmental science (urban planning) degree, which underlies her passion for future focused planning initiatives.
Her litigation experience includes involvement in a number of seminal cases in the Planning and Environment Court. She is highly skilled in undertaking due diligence for prospective land purchases, assessing existing use rights, ensuring regulatory compliance and considering development proposals prior to lodgement.
Rachel has extensive experience advising on local planning schemes, infrastructure charges and infrastructure agreements, and has a deep understanding of the Planning Act 2016 (Qld) and its related legislation and predecessors.
Her expertise extends to compliance matters, including enforcement action in both the Magistrates Court and Planning and Environment Court, with particular focus on development and environmental compliance, Local Law breaches and Food Act offences.
Rachel acts for a diverse range of clients including private and commercial clients, property developers, submitters and local and state government departments across all facets of planning and environment law.
In addition, Rachel is the Secretary of the Queensland Environmental Law Association, the Chair of the Special Projects Committee and an active member of the Conference Committee, Women in Planning Network Committee and the Awards Committee for the Planning Institute of Australia.
The enforcement spectrum: choosing the right compliance pathway in local government
Queensland’s affordable housing approval pathway is ready to go
Streamlined assessment pathway for social and affordable housing programs
Providing advice to various local governments in respect of potential amendments to their Planning Scheme.
Acting for the City in respect of the Mango Hill DCP, including the potential redevelopment of a golf course and providing strategic advice to Council.
Successfully acting for BGM in a suite of appeals, defending an approval of a shopping centre in a submitter appeal and defeating a competitor application for a shopping centre on adjoining land.
Successfully acting for the City in the defence of a refusal of the Boral Gold Coast Quarry.
Acting on a range of planning and environmental enforcement proceedings for both authorities and defendants in substantive enforcement disputes in the Planning and Environment Court and the Magistrates Court.
Advising in relation to the development potential of land, and private agreements to facilitate development including crane overswing and rock anchoring agreements.
Providing advice in respect of a variety of matters including existing use rights, maximising development potential of land and road impacts which may arise from the construction and operation of a wind farm project.
Advising a solar farm operator about their development application, including acting in an appeal and advising in respect of a subsequent call in.
