Legal Insights
When is a ‘landscape plan’ an ‘engineering plan’ - Whittlesea City Council v AV Jennings Properties Ltd [2026] VSC 606
On 24 September 2026, the Supreme Court of Victoria delivered judgment in an appeal by Whittlesea City Council (Council) from the decision of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (Tribunal) in AV Jennings Properties Ltd v Whittlesea City Council [2024] VCAT 836 (Tribunal decision).
Harwood Andrews planning team preserves the unique Portarlington foreshore reserve for the second time.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has once more rejected proposals for a multi-tiered residential and commercial project in Portarlington.
The Environment Framework – 6 Months in
This video is presented by Planning and Environment Principal, Greg Tobin providing an update on recent changes to the Environment Protection Act 2017 (VIC). Covering the following topics:
The New Victorian Environment Protection Framework
On 1 July 2021, the Environment Protection Act 2017 (New Act) came into effect.
The new environment protection framework adopts a preventative, risk-based approach to preventing harm to human health and the environment. This is a shift away from the Former Act which adopted a prohibitive, reactionary approach whereby polluters were punished after committing an offence.
Changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987
A raft of changes to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) were introduced this week, with the Planning and Environment Amendment Act 2021 (Vic) given Royal Assent on Tuesday 23 March 2021.