Our Services
The Land and Environment Court (LEC) has power to enforce the planning legislation in its civil jurisdiction (Class 4) to order certain actions be undertaken. The LEC also has power under class 5 of its jurisdiction to conduct the criminal prosecution of persons for breaches of the planning and environmental laws (those powers including fines and/or incarceration). Prosecution and/or appeals of penalty notice offences can also be undertaken in the Local Court. The SWS Property and Planning team have extensive experience in both prosecuting for Councils and defending persons against prosecution. We also advise clients in relation to penalty notices and development control orders.
Our team can also advise on the procurement of easements for drainage, vehicle access and the like. Proceedings for easements (where negotiations have failed) are undertaken in the Supreme Court and are very technical. The LEC has some jurisdiction to hear easement matters in limited circumstances.
We also act of landowners and developers in relation to contamination matters (land/water) and issues arising where the Environmental Protection Agency become involved.
The SWS Property and Planning team have extensive experience in conducting proceedings in the Land and Environment Court and Local Court.
We can also carry out planning (development controls, development potential, site constraints) and property due diligence as a pre-purchase service.
