Julie Walsh : Partner

ACCREDITED SPECIALIST – LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PLANNING LAW

 jwalsh@pikeslawyers.com.au

Areas of Practice:

• Local Government Law.
• Planning Law.
• Environmental Law.
• Property Law.
• Valuation and Compulsory Acquisitions.
• Administrative Law.
• Commercial Law.

Academic Qualifications:

• 1981 BA, University of Sydney
• 1981 LLB, University of Sydney
• 1998 Master of Environmental Law, University of Sydney

Admission Details:

• 1981 New South Wales

Career Highlights:

Julie has been involved in a number of significant cases including:

• Brimbella Pty Limited v Mosman Municipal Council 79 LGERA 367 – manner of approaching s56A appeals against decisions of Assessors of the Land and Environment Court (Court of Appeal).
• Ryde City Council ats Friends of Pryor Park 91 LGERA 302 – consideration of community land provisions of Local Government Act 1993 (Court of Appeal).
• Belongil Progress Association Inc. v Byron Shire Council 106 LGERA 202 – challenge to the validity of a Local Environmental Plan (Land and Environment Court).
• Ryde City Council ats Echt 107 LGERA 317 – administrative law – whether a council can be required to issue an order under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (Court of Appeal).
• Ryde City Council ats Meriton Apartments 108 LGERA 352 – s56A appeal – failure of Commissioner to take into account a relevant matter for consideration (Land and Environment Court).
• Mosman Municipal Council ats Lesnewski 138 LGERA 207 – consideration of whether section 101 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 precludes a challenge to the validity of a development consent; consideration of 'not inconsistent' in relation to Construction Certificates and Regulation 145 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulations (Court of Appeal).
• Leichhardt Municipal Council ats Bezzina Developers Pty Limited 146 LGERA 249 – assessment of compensation for disturbance arising out of compulsory acquisition of waterfront open space land at Balmain by Leichhardt Council (Land and Environment Court).
• Sutherland Shire Council v Sydney Water Corporation [2008] NSWLEC 303 - assessment of compensation for compulsory acquisition of Council community land zoned open space (Land and Environment Court).

Julie is currently a member of the following committees:

• Law Society of New South Wales Planning and Development Law Committee
• Land and Environment Court Users Group  

Professional Memberships

• Australian Property Institute (FAPI)
• Environmental Planning Law Association Inc.
• New South Wales National Trust of Australia

Publications and Presentations:

• "Class 1 Appeals in the Land and Environment Court" workshops presented to Mosman Council and Ryde Council in February/March 2003.
• "SEPP 1 objections" workshop presented to Mosman Council in September 2003.
• Recent Practice Directions and Rule Changes in the Land and Environment Court" workshops presented to Mosman Municipal Council, Ryde City Council and Hurstville City Council in 2004.
• "Council Property Dealings" – Paper delivered to Hurstville City Council in April 2004.
• "SEPP Objections" – Paper presented to Hawkesbury Council in 2005.
• "Planning Principles in the Land and Environment Court" – workshop presented to Mosman Council in 2005.
• "Planning Principles and SEPP 1" – presentation to Hawkesbury Council in 2006.
• "Developments in the Land and Environment Court over the last 12 months" – presentation to Mosman Council in 2006.
• "Expert Evidence in Class 1 appeals in the Land and Environment Court" – presentation to Leichhardt Council in 2006.
• "Strata Title and Community Title Developments" - presentation to Ashfield Council in 2006.
• "New Practice Note for Class 1 Appeals in the Land and Environment Court" – presentation to Hornsby Council in 2007.
• "Development Control Plans" – presentation to Mosman Council in 2007.
• "Planning Certificates – what they tell you and what they don't" – presentation to the College of Law in 2008.
• "Frank Sartor's amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979" – presentation to City of Sydney Law Society and various Councils in 2008.
• "Valuation of Easements" – presentation to NSW Division of Australian Property Institute in 2009.
• "Planning Certificates" – presentation to City of Sydney Law Society in 2009.
• Julie is responsible for the preparation of the quarterly "Judgments Bulletin" published by Pikes Lawyers.

Employment History:

• 2001 - current:  Partner, Pikes Lawyers
• 1986 - 2001:  Partner, Hill Thomson & Sullivan
• 1984 - 1986:  Solicitor, Hill Thomson & Sullivan
• 1983 - 1984:  In-house Solicitor, Blue Mountains City Council
• 1982 - 1983:  In-house Legal Clerk, Penrith City Council