Mark has over 10 years’ experience advising a wide range of corporate and investment interests on the requirements and limitations of environmental and administrative law.  His work has had a particular focus on resource consents for significant and complex projects, including wind, thermal and hydro-electric power generation, petrochemical refining and transmission activities, retail resource management and strategic plan change initiatives.

Mark has also had considerable involvement in statutory audit and environmental due diligence investigations, and has assisted clients in successfully navigating challenging compliance situations. 

NOTABLE EXPERIENCE

• Acting for New Zealand’s most substantial dairy co-operative group throughout the council, mediation and Environment Court phases in successfully consenting a new 250MW dual fuel energy centre for the largest single-site dairy factory in the world

• Advising a Government Ministry in relation to the implications of the Foreshore and Seabed Bill for matters within its portfolio, and representing its interests throughout the 2005 Resource Management Act amendment process

• Acting for New Zealand’s only fuel refining company in relation to all consenting and future planning matters, including re-consenting all operations and discharges, resolving reverse sensitivity issues associated with a major new residential development, advising on reconfiguration proposals, and advising on the designation of the company’s products pipeline

• Lead Counsel in the consenting of a new 90MW wind farm on the West Coast of the North Island

• Acting for a major food manufacturer on the strategic planning of, and request for a privately initiated plan change designed to provide for future re-use activities on a landmark urban site

• Lead counsel for a major national property investor and retail developer during the Local Government (Auckland) Amendment Act plan change process, and in relation to the consenting of extensions to facilities associated with one of its major assets

• Advising a range of private development interests on the application of the Public Works Act and the designation provisions of the Resource Management Act in major road realignment situations

• Acting for a major agrichemical manufacturer on the re-consenting of stormwater and air discharges

• Drafting a Local Bill for a South Island consent authority to facilitate land dealings associated with a proposed hydro-electric power scheme upgrade

• Advising major national companies in the network utilities and waste management fields on environmental and planning issues, particularly in relation to reverse sensitivity, discharge permit and designation matters

• Acting for national electricity generators in relation to strategic decision-making and the re-consenting of hydro-electric power schemes under the Resource Management Act

• Advising major resource corporates on Government policy and legislative developments in relation to climate change and greenhouse gas issues

• Assisting a large rural industrial operator throughout an environment prosecution process