Kirston is a leading environment and planning lawyer with a particular emphasis on the strategic, regulatory and environmental aspects of development, renewables and and infrastructure projects.
Kirston is recognised for her successful approach to the conduct of environmental litigation and appears regularly in all classes of matters in the Land and Environment Court of NSW. Kirston provides strategic advice on complex projects to both government and private sector clients and is highly skilled at working with multi-disciplinary teams to ensure project outcomes are achieved.
Kirston has been named “Lawyer of the Year” for Land Use and Zoning Law in Best Lawyers™ Australia 2020 edition. She is acknowledged in Best Lawyers™ Australia for Climate Change Law, Land Use and Zoning Law and Planning and Environmental Law. Kirston is also recognised in Doyle’s Guide as a Leading Town Planning & Development Lawyer.
Expertise
Experience
- Virya Energy Advising on planning approvals pathways advice for State significant Development and obtaining consent for the 1500-megawatt Yanco Delta Wind Farm Renewable Project.
- Developer Client Advising on the rezoning and masterplan approval and negotiated the multimillion dollar planning agreement for the AutoAlley redevelopment in Parramatta. ‘Gateway South’ provides a new $600 million commercial, residential and open space precinct.
- Byron Shire Council Advising on the delivery of the Byron Road Bypass infrastructure project, staging and integration with Transport for NSW bus interchange projects and town centre revitalisation program and successfully defending challenges to the project including threatened species management and Biodiversity Conservation.
- Energy Sector client Advising in respect of compliance with conditions of development consent, including emissions, noise control and environmental management in responses to notices and regulatory action by the EPA in relation to licences and environmental management.
- Campbelltown City Council Successfully prosecuting a private landholder for breaches of the EPA Act and the POEO Act relating to the unlawful placement of approximately 600 tonnes of fill in a natural watercourse.
- Cumberland Council Advising in relation to the clean-up action commenced against Vic James and Sons Engineering at 22-23 Crescent, Holroyd. Court orders were obtained requiring implementation of the clean-up and remediation of the site.
- Oven Mountain Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Advising on planning matters, including cultural heritage matters for the transmission pathway and easement and related undertakings.
- Government and Developer Clients Advising on Biodiversity Management including Stewardship agreements, transitional threatened species pathways and the creation, sale and purchase of biodiversity credits for infrastructure projects.
