Ashlieigh Egan

Ashleigh is an environment and planning lawyer based in Sydney with over 12 years' experience. Ashleigh's experience comprises both transactional and litigation work relating to a broad range of environment and planning matters. Ashleigh advises both private and Government clients (Commonwealth, State and Local) across planning issues, development approval pathways, compulsory acquisition and valuation of land matters, contamination, pollution, waste and regulatory issues.

Experience

Ashleigh advises across all areas of environment and planning law and has a particular interest and expertise in acting for clients in compulsory acquisition proceedings (with experience acting for both the acquiring authority and the impacted landowner), including in Court proceedings in the Land and Environment Court.

In addition, Ashleigh has a strong interest in property development and advising clients in relation to large-scale development and infrastructure projects, including in the renewables and energy transition sector, mixed use housing developments and commercial projects.

Ashleigh areas of expertise include:

• planning and development approval and assessment pathways under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979
• acquisition of land and the assessment of compensation under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991
• pollution offences and responses to regulatory action under the Protection of Environment Operations Act 1997
• contaminated land management and reporting obligations under the Contaminated Land Management Act 1997, as well as action in nuisance and negligence resulting from contaminated land.

Career highlights

Ashleigh's experience includes:

• advising Energy Corporation NSW in relation to its acquisition strategy for the New England Renewable Energy Zone including providing due diligence on properties proposed for acquisition; preparation of acquisition manual; preparation of property management manual; advising on acquisition strategy and easement terms
• acting for Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation in relation to Class 3 compensation proceedings in the Land and Environment Court
• advising Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation in relation to acquisitions in each of the Special Activation Precincts at Wagga Wagga; Parkes; Moree and Snowy Mountains
• acting for Commonwealth of Australia (instructed by Department of Defence) in relation to a claim in negligence and nuisance arising from PFAS contamination
• advising a local Council in relation to regulatory action under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 for breach of Environment Protection Licence conditions
• acting for Transport for New South Wales in relation to numerous acquisitions for various projects across NSW including in Class 3 compensation proceedings in the Land and Environment Court and on appeal in the NSW Court of Appeal
• acting for landowners and other interest holders in respect to acquisitions by Sydney Metro for the Sydney Metro West Project and Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport projects
• advising a NSW government agency in relation to its acquisition due diligence and acquisition strategy associated with the Transport Oriented Development accelerated precincts
• advising a NSW government agency in relation to its acquisition strategy for an inner-city development site
• advising a NSW government agency in relation to the management of contaminated sites
• advising Planning Ministerial Corporation in relation to the acquisition of site for a school
• advising Lendlease on planning, environmental, heritage and contamination issues associated with the approval process for the mixed-use re-developments of Barangaroo and the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct
• advising the Department of Defence on environmental and compliance requirements associated with remediation projects in NSW, Northern Territory, Queensland and Victoria.