Steve has wide-ranging experience in resource management and environmental litigation, and has made numerous appearances at council-level and Environment Court hearings and mediations. His experience includes: assisting with resource consent/plan change applications for a number of major energy, residential, retail, and infrastructure projects; and advising on resource management plans and plan changes, resource consents, designations, and environmental legislation (including legislative/policy reform).
Steve has also acted on numerous major environmental due diligence projects prior to company and property acquisitions; and has advised on Public Works Act acquisition and compensation issues, the Local Government Act, and the Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga Act.
NOTABLE EXPERIENCE
Working with Ian Gordon (Barrister) to progress the Mangawhai Central development through several Environment Court appeals. This is a large-scale mixed-use development of a 130ha site in Mangawhai, a coastal settlement north of Auckland. The proposed development includes a town centre/main street with a range of retail (including a supermarket) and commercial and other services; a business (service/industrial) area; and a range of recreation facilities and ecological enhancements/green spaces throughout the site. Additionally, the development proposes to deliver some 1,000 residential dwellings, including a retirement village
Junior counsel for Tararua Wind Power (Mercury) for its Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm in Northland. The wind farm was successfully approved by Hearing Commissioners in March 2022. It comprises 19 turbines up to 220m in height, being the highest turbines consented in the country to date
Junior counsel for Tilt Renewables (formerly Trustpower) for its recently-constructed 48 turbine coastal Waipipi Wind Farm proposal in South Taranaki
Assisting Refining NZ on a range of environmental matters, including its recent major coastal dredging project, regional re-consenting, and the environmental aspects of its corporate restructure associated with its transition from a refinery to an import and distribution terminal
Assisting Northport with a recent Environment Court appeal relating to noise, and its proposed expansion plans - its “Vision for Growth” project
Assisting Trustpower on an Environment Court plan change regarding water rights in Otago, along with several other re-consenting projects for Trustpower’s hydro-electric schemes
Advising Greymouth Petroleum through its involvement with the proposed New Plymouth District Plan. This has included advising the company through the submission process and a series of hearings, including appearing on behalf of the company coupled with strategic advice throughout
Junior counsel for residents affected by a proposed wind farm in Dunedin. The proposal was successfully opposed, with the Environment Court declining consents
Providing mediation/facilitation services to the Environmental Protection Authority
Assisting the Mount Maunganui Underwater Club with respect to the resource consent applications for the MV Rena wreck, through both council and Environment Court hearings
Acting for a property developer in Beachlands, Auckland regarding a multi-stage residential subdivision/development
PRACTICE AREAS
Resource Management
Environment
Major Projects
Energy and Resource