Alex has over 20 years’ experience working in environment and planning law with private and public sector clients.  She has worked on projects including major infrastructure projects, greenfields and infill industrial and residential developments, as well as significant quarry and landfill developments.

Alex has particular expertise in major projects, Aboriginal cultural heritage, biodiversity, precinct structure planning, development/infrastructure contributions, potable water catchments, environmental impact assessment, contaminated land, administrative law, climate change adaptation and ‘buffer’ management issues.

Since joining the Bar in 2019, Alex has advised and appeared, both led and unled, at Planning Panels Victoria and the Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal in relation to:

• inquiries into the environmental impacts of major projects (Environment Effects Statements) – North East Link (for EPA Victoria), Crib Point Gas Import Jetty Works and Pipeline (for AGL and APA), Western Outer Metropolitan Ring gas pipeline (for APA) and the Suburban Rail Loop East (for Whitehorse and Monash City Councils and Monash University)

• implementation of major projects

• quarry, landfill and resource recovery projects

• a wide range of residential and commercial developments in urban, peri-urban and regional areas, including a proposed aquaculture (abalone) facility in Portland, a proposed international-standard art gallery in Harkaway, master-planned industrial and residential subdivisions, solar farms, wind farms, and the proposed Cape Otway Road Australia tourism development

• environmental and planning compliance and enforcement issues.

Immediately prior to joining the Bar, Alex was a Special Counsel in the Environment & Planning team at Norton Rose Fulbright in Melbourne.  Alex’s expertise as a solicitor and subsequently a barrister in environment and planning was recognised by her inclusion in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 editions of The Best Lawyers in Australia in Planning and Environment Law, and in Doyle’s Guide as a Rising Star in 2017, as a Leading Environment Lawyer in 2018 and as a Recommended Planning & Environment Law Junior Barrister in 2020 and 2021 and a Recommended Planning & Environment Law Junior Barrister in 2022.

As well as her Bachelor of Laws (Honours) degree, Alex has a Bachelor of Science in Australian Environmental Studies, and a Master of Science in Environmental Regulation from the London School of Economics.

*Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards legislation

Areas of Practice

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