Environmental Planning and Property Law

The Land and Environment Court is a specialist court but with a very broad jurisdiction. It includes appeals from local councils regarding environmental and planning decisions, litigation regarding trees and hedges, disagreements about the value of land when it affects such things as rates, land tax or the compulsory acquisition of land by the government. The Court has jurisdiction over NSW mining law and has powers to enforce or to punish breaches of planning and environmental laws.

The Court’s practices differ significantly from the State’s three courts of general jurisdiction and it is therefore advisable to engage practitioners who are familiar with those practices.