Education, Government Services, Local Government, State Government QLD, Planning and Environment
With over 25 years working closely with regional and city councils across Queensland, Troy provides strategic guidance on governance, rating, procurement and conflicts of interest. Known for delivering practical and commercially focused solutions, his advice aligns with council objectives while navigating the complexities of regulatory compliance and community expectations.
As a specialist local government lawyer, his expertise extends to administrative law, judicial review, and health prosecutions. He regularly represents local governments, developers and other stakeholders in the Planning and Environment Court in merits appeals, declaratory and enforcement proceedings. Troy also has extensive front-end experience in planning advisory and infrastructure agreements.
As a recognised leader in the field, he is a former President of the Queensland Environmental Law Association (QELA) and remains an active member of Queensland Law Society Planning and Environment Committee and the Queensland Environmental Law Association.
His experience is widely acknowledged through industry recognition including, Doyle’s Guide as a ‘Preeminent Planning and Development lawyer, Best Lawyers Australia 2025 for Planning and Environmental law and Land Use and Zoning law and he received the 2023 Lawyer of the Year Award for Land Use and Zoning Law Brisbane.
Reduction of red tape – EA exemption for Quarry Material Extraction
Council enforcement notice upheld by Court
Procedural fairness in enforcement matters: Defendant’s understanding
Securing lawful uses: navigating existing use rights in changing planning schemes
Successful defence of Council’s decision to refuse a proposed large self-storage facility at Cannonvale.
Successful defence of Council’s decision to approve a resort hotel complex in Airlie Beach.
Successful defence of Council’s issue of an enforcement notice to remove an unlawful fixed crushing and screening plant at Kin Kin quarry and secured an enforcement order for impacts at the quarry under section 180 of the Planning Act 2016 (Qld).
Successful defence of Council’s decision to refuse short-term accommodation application that had not been commercially let prior to the commencement of Council’s planning scheme.
Successful defence of a refusal of a supermarket in Trinity Park in the Planning and Environment Court, and the Court of Appeal, as well as various advisory on conflicts of interest and governance procedures.
Successful appeal involving a proposed Woolworths shopping centre in Trinity Beach
Acting for an association in a successful enforcement proceeding that was the first case to consider the meaning of an ‘ancillary use’ under the Planning Act 2016 (QLD) (see Caravan Parks Association of Queensland v Rockhampton Regional Council [2018] QPEC 52).
Successful and first prosecution of a company for selling ice (crystal methamphetamine) pipes (see Trio Brothers Pty Ltd v Maskill [2020] QDC 62 and [2020] QCA 235).
