Mark Bartley
Mark is an Accredited Specialist in Environment, Planning and Local Government with over 30 years experience. He advises on all planning and major project approvals, water law and governance. He frequently appears in VCAT, Planning Panels and Advisory Committees representing local government and statutory authorities as well as land owners and developers.
Mark’s background includes town planning and project management. He brings a practical solution focussed approach to property development, and all local, state and Commonwealth approval processes. He has acted in the water industry for 20 years advising on major projects, water policy, regulation and water trading. Mark also advises on probity and governance issues.
Mark has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for Land Use and Zoning Law in Best Lawyers™ Australia 2019 edition. He is also recognised in Best Lawyers™ Australia for Climate Change Law, Government Practice, Land Use and Zoning Law, Planning and Environmental Law and Water Law. He has also been named in Doyle’s Guide as one of Australia’s leading planning lawyers.
Experience
Mark’s recent experience includes:
- Dennis family corporation: Acted in numerous Precinct Structure Plan hearings and advised DFC on all aspects of planning approvals for major estates around Melbourne for the past 20 years. He recently acted in the 5 Precinct Structure Plans for the Armstrong Creek Growth Area at Geelong;
- Central highlands water: Advised and acted in obtaining approvals for the Goldfields Superpipe, an 80km pipeline through central Victoria. This involved complex environment and planning approvals;
- VicRoads: Acted for VicRoads in approvals for the Western Highway upgrade between Ballarat and Horsham, which included EES and planning scheme amendments involving heritage, flooding and other issues;
- Arthurs seat skylift: Advised the proponent consortium and acted in a major planning appeal to secure approvals for the new gondola based lift at Arthurs Seat on the Mornington peninsula. This involved complex issues regarding development in the State Park, vegetation removal, fire management and tourism master planning; and
- Local government land sale and development: Acting for the Cities of Whitehorse and Brimbank in managing the tender sale of significant parcels of Council owned land. He has coordinated the sale process and evaluation of proposals and assisted with planning approvals for these major redevelopment sites.