Sal’s primary areas of practice include planning advice and applications, and environmental advice, disputes and litigation. She has experience working with both public sector and private clients.
Sal regularly acts for clients in planning disputes, including in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and at Planning Panels Victoria (PPV). This includes instructing expert witnesses and Counsel, reviewing plans and evidence, and drafting written legal submissions. Sal also has some advocacy experience, representing clients in planning and environmental litigation, including proceedings before the VCAT and PPV.
Sal also has an advisory practice, including on issues such as cultural heritage management plans, built form heritage, the interaction between and hierarchy of planning controls, precinct structure plans and development plans, permit extensions and conditions, land use and enforcement issues, section 173 agreements, land tax (including the Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution), and protected vegetation and species (including under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).
Experience
- Advising YourLand Developments on the Greater Bendigo Industrial Land Development Strategy (Amendment C282gben), the Marong PSP (Amendment C263gben) and Officer South Employment PSP (Amedment C274card) panel hearing processes. Issues raised included staging, drainage, industrial land buffers, industrial land supply, freight corridor routes, housing supply and future residential growth areas. Instructing Senior Counsel at Panel hearings in respect of two amendments, and appearing and advocating for Yourland Developments in the other.
- Advising Build to Rent developer and owner Greystar in relation to developments in Kensington and Fitzroy including instructing Counsel at a Special Advisory Committee hearing.
- Successfully representing Yarra City Council in proceedings before VCAT, regarding proposals for a mental health facility and a self-storage facility respectively.
- Advising clients and representing clients at planning scheme amendment hearings, including C160fran and C192bays. C160fran related to the Proposed Frankston Metorpolican Activity Centre, and C192bays related to heritage listings in Bayside. Made submissions and cross-examined witnesses before Planning Panels Victoria.
- Advising clients on a wide range of planning issues, including permit applications, extensions and amendments to permits and the interpretation of planning schemes.
- Advising clients on a range of built form heritage issues, including providing advice on proposed heritage overlays and instructing counsel at a hearing before the Heritage Council regarding the No 2 Goods Shed.
- Advising clients on Aboriginal Cultural Heritage issues and legal obligations related to the management of Aboriginal Cultural Hertiage.
- Advising and assisting both private clients and a State Government client in negotiating section 173 agreements.
Awards and Recognition
Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession 2025
Planning & Environment Law Rising Stars (VIC)
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2025
Environment and planning