A difficult planning process often accumulates correspondence, technical material and institutional positions faster than it clarifies the actual decision. The first task is to identify the statutory test, relevant effects, evidential burden and scope of lawful discretion.
Planning strategy and process review
- Independent review of difficult applications
- Section 92 further-information responses
- Notification and affected-party strategy
- Consent-condition review and negotiation
- Submissions and further submissions
- Expert planning evidence
- Hearing preparation and presentation
- Mediation and appeal support with counsel
Applications that have gone off course
Peter can review the application record, establish what information and decisions remain outstanding, distinguish relevant planning issues from process drift, and recommend a controlled route to determination. This can include reshaping the proposal, commissioning targeted evidence, narrowing disputed matters or challenging requirements that exceed the proper scope of the process.
Conditions and implementation
A nominal approval can still be commercially or operationally unworkable. Draft conditions should be reviewed against the effects they address, the applicant’s control, objective measurement, engineering and construction dependencies, ongoing monitoring cost and the statutory tests applying to conditions.
Hearings and expert planning evidence
Wilson Environmental prepares planning evidence and appears at council and commissioner hearings. Peter’s Certified Hearings Commissioner training reinforces a decision-focused approach: state the applicable framework, fairly engage with contrary material and explain why the recommended outcome follows from the evidence.
Appeals and judicial review support
Peter provides planning analysis, evidence and strategic support to parties and their lawyers. Wilson Environmental is not a law firm and does not replace legal representation. Where formal proceedings are contemplated, the planning and legal work should be scoped together.
Policy and plan processes
Experience across more than 30 plan-change processes and numerous hearings allows Wilson Environmental to assist with submissions, evidence, provision drafting and evaluation of how proposed policy will operate on actual land, activities and consent pathways.