Leanne O’Neill

Petroleum and resources

• Advising the State of Queensland (while with government and since working with Cooper Grace Ward) regarding legislative reform for the mining, petroleum and geothermal sectors.
• Representing and advising the State of Queensland and mining companies regarding regulatory compliance, appeals and objections to grant of mining and petroleum tenements.
• Advising on regulatory compliance (including under the Planning frameworks) for associated development such as refineries, processing infrastructure and mining camps.
• Advising on regulatory compliance and development of quarries under the Planning frameworks.
• Advising landholders on land access agreements related to prospecting and extraction activities for petroleum, gas and mineral resources.

Compulsory acquisitions and valuations

• Representing landowners and other interested parties on compulsory acquisitions.
• Negotiating compensation agreements on behalf of landholders with resuming authorities for significant and minor public infrastructure.
• Providing advice and representation on objections and appeals.
• Representing the State in over 448 commercial valuation appeals in the Land Court under the Valuation of Land Act 1944 (Qld).
• Advising the State of Queensland and private clients in relation to objections to statutory valuations.

Planning and environment

• Responsible for the coordination and management of over 100 planning and environment appeals to which the State was a party in the Planning and Environment Court, and over 30 planning appeals/applications for private clients and statutory authorities (for example, Urban Utilities).
• Advising on and assisting in the delivery of major projects and infrastructure, including dams, renewable energy developments, quarries, dams, road networks, town centres and large residential subdivisions across a broad range of legislation at a council, state and Federal level.
• Management of over 20 regulatory compliance appeals and prosecutions in the Land Court and Magistrates Court for vegetation and water offences.
• Advising and representing clients in relation to show cause notices and other compliance matters, including in the Planning and Environment Court under the:
  • Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and Planning Act 2016
  • vegetation management legislative regimes including the Vegetation Management Act 1999, the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and federal and local government laws
  • Environmental Protection Act 1994 (enforcement proceedings and show cause notices, environmental authorities and permits required to undertake certain activities)
  • the Building Act 1975 (both residential and commercial), including in relation to certificates of classification.

Agribusiness land management and use

• Specialising in biosecurity management and risk mitigation.
• Negotiating agreements for diversification of income streams and land use, including environmental offset agreements, renewable energy initiatives, agistment agreements, timber harvesting, water use, environmental offsets, carbon sequestration and quarries.
• Negotiating and drafting seed stock agreements for animals and plants.
• Providing advice and representation regarding water entitlements, allocations and licences and vegetation management, including applications and appeals.
• Advising on management obligations on State land, pastoral leases and conservation land, including bush fire management obligations, conservation agreements and land use within waterways as specified by a range of legislation.
• Advising on the Land Act 1994, including land tenure and use, pastoral holdings, wet leases and dry leases, conversion applications and disputes under leases.
• Advising on leasing and leasing disputes, especially where unique environmental and other issues arise, e.g. marinas and laboratories.

Native title and cultural heritage

• Negotiating and drafting cultural heritage agreements.
• Advising government, proponents and land owners on complying with native title requirements and on the impact of claims for determination of native title.
• Representing the State of Queensland in the National Native Title Tribunal and landowners in the Federal Court.
• Representing the State in Indigenous Land Use Agreement negotiations.
• Advising on complex native title issues.
• Advising in relation to native title implications in amending legislation.
• Participating in a number of native title and cultural heritage advisory panels to the State of Queensland.