LEGAL INSIGHT.
BUSINESS INSTINCT.
With demonstrated proficiency in planning and environment law, Merlo Law is strategically positioned to advise and counsel clients on the intricacies of development projects. From licenses and approvals to project legal plans and building contracts – we have the legal insight and business instinct to steer you in the right direction.
Our planning and environment expertise include:
- Strategic planning advice;
- Policy review and assessment;
- Feasibility studies and property due diligence;
- Risk assessment and management;
- Statutory planning advice and reporting;
- Development permit negotiations;
- Litigation;
- Heritage issues;
- Land valuation and resumptions;
- Contaminated land and remediation advice;
- Environmental authorities and compliance reporting.
DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING LAWYERS
Merlo Law’s planning and development team will provide you with advice on lodging development applications with local authorities under the Sustainable Planning Act (SPA) and related legislation. We are here to advise you on all your options before lodging a DA. So you avoid time-consuming and frustrating requests to your local Council. This includes:
- Advice on making submissions about development applications lodged by third parties.
- Advice about infrastructure charges imposed by local municipalities on development approvals.
- Advice on your rights to appeal or make an application to the Planning and Environment Court, either as a developer or submitter.
- Undertaking “due diligence” investigations including reviewing planning instruments impacting on the property to be purchased.
Once your DA has been approved, you will receive a ‘Decision Notice’ which includes all the conditions required to be completed before getting your plans sealed by Council.
Merlo Law is ideally experienced to scrutinise these conditions to ensure that they are reasonable, and cost effective. It is vital that these are examined quickly as the legislation only allows you a short amount of time to dispute these conditions if you need to do so to ensure that your project remains feasible.
If you do need to challenge these conditions, you need a construction lawyer on your side that knows the likelihood of success of your dispute and who can put up a good argument to back your dispute up.
“John clearly has expert knowledge of the construction industry. He also possesses great relationship building skills.”
– Paul Ransley
Managing Director at FIFO Capital Nationwide
“I have no hesitation in recommending you.”
Don Meredith
Managing Directer at Custom Line Engineering Pty Ltd
SUBDIVISION OF PROPERTY
Subdividing land involves much more than drafting a few lines on a plan, or simply engaging a surveyor or town planner. This process has become increasingly complex, with more and more hurdles to jump over, boxes to be ticked and forms to submit. At Merlo Law, our team of specialist lawyers understand these issues and will help you realise your profit.
Whether you’re a developer or submitter, our team of planning and development lawyers will work collaboratively and in conjunction with our (or your) other specialist consultants. Our experienced consultants include town planners, engineers, surveyors, and accountants, who provide you with technical and common sense advice from a ‘legal perspective’ for your matter.
COMPLIANCE – CONSTRUCTION
– PLAN SEALING STAGES
During the construction phase of the operational and civil works, Merlo Law will be on site to ensure that all consultants and works are constructed to industry and Council standards on time to fulfil the relevant DA conditions. If demolition or land clearing is required, Merlo Law will take care of those issues too.
Concurrent to the construction phase, the team at Merlo Law will start on the preparation of the compliance report so you can lodge it along with your survey plan with a minimal loss of time to get your plans approved by Council.
Once we have received your approved plans back from Council, we register the titles in the titles office on your behalf. Other than signing them, there will be nothing more that you will need to do.
“I have always been impressed.”
George Frilingos
Operations Manager at Plan Modular