John Paul Merlino
John Paul is a highly experienced environment and planning lawyer specialising in all aspects of Town Planning, Development, Land Use, Administrative, Local Government and Environmental law in NSW.
John Paul has been named in Best Lawyers™ Australia for Planning and Environmental Law since 2020 and is particularly skilled in litigation and administrative law, providing advice to clients in relation to complex, multi-disciplinary court proceedings involving administrative decision making and large-scale development projects including multi-storey mixed-use towers and infrastructure. He provides advice in relation to various environmental issues affecting land use and existing business operations such as Environmental Protection Licensing, land contamination, pollution incidents and biosecurity protection. John Paul also has an interest in reforms targeting more efficient planning approvals and certification of development.
Experience
John Paul’s recent experience includes:
- Land and Environment Court: Conducting various civil proceedings, taking a hands-on approach to obtaining practical solutions of behalf of clients;
- Willoughby City Council: Successful conciliation and negotiation of a multi-storey mixed-use development including affordable housing units;
- Proposed Commercial and Residential Rezoning: Drafting a planning agreement on behalf of developer associated with proposed commercial and residential rezoning, which provided for the dedication of land together with the construction public infrastructure such as cycleways and public plaza;
- State Government Agency: Advising in relation to numerous breaches of the NSW biosecurity protection regime;
- Land and Environment Court and Local Court: Conducting criminal prosecutions for both prosecutors and defendants in relation to various environmental and planning issues; and
- Legislation consent/approvals: Providing advice with respect to development consent/approvals processes under various pieces of legislation including the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016, Local Government Act 1993, Biosecurity Act 2015 and Water Management Act 2000.