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ARTICLE · 03 FEBRUARY 2020

The bushfire crisis and its implications for NSW planning and environment laws

Colin Biggers & Paisley
Explore more from Colin Biggers & Paisley

The article examines the current NSW planning and environmental legal framework, proposed reforms and now, more changes.

AustraliaReal Estate and Construction
Todd Neal
Todd Neal
Katherine Edwards
Katherine Edwards
Anthony Landro
Anthony Landro
Mollie Matthews
Mollie Matthews

In brief - The recent bushfire crisis is likely to serve as an existential moment for law and policy makers across a range of legal areas. Not surprisingly, the New South Wales and Commonwealth planning and environment laws have again been placed into the spotlight as the affected regions recover and rebuild.

This article examines what we might expect under the current planning and environmental legal framework and as law makers continue the large reform agenda that was to occur this year. In short, the bushfires will lead to further change.

Calls for action

On 10 January 2020, the President of the Australian Academy of Science Professor John Shine issued the following media release regarding the unprecedented bushfires across the Christmas and New Year period:

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