Matthew Townsend practices almost exclusively in environmental and planning law, restrictive covenants and the compulsory acquisition of land.
He lectures in planning and environmental law at the Leo Cussen Institute and is the past President of the Victorian Division of the National Environmental Law Association. In 2000 Matthew was awarded the Public Interest Law Clearing House Pro Bono Award by the Governor of Victoria for his work in environmental litigation. He was Dux of International Environmental Law at Leiden University in Holland in 1992 and was the inaugural winner of the JF Kearney, QC prize in environmental law in 1991.
Matthew's experience as a barrister includes appearances in the following cases:
Advertising signs
- Asia Pacific Hotels Pty Ltd v Melbourne CC [2009] VCAT 2492 (for Council)
- Central Equity v Melbourne CC [2009] VCAT 2075 (for Council)
- Melbourne Central Custodian Pty Ltd v Melbourne CC [2006] VCAT 276 (for Council)
Aged/community care facilities
- Director of Housing v Moorabool SC [2009] VCAT 882 (for DHS)
- Melbourne C117 (PSA) [2007] PPV 14 (for Office of Housing)
- Cobden v Greater Bendigo CC [2003] VCAT 1395 (for DHS)
Brothels/sexually explicit entertainment venues
- Plenty River Hotel v Greater Geelong CC [2006] VCAT 674 (21 April 2006)
- Primelife Corporation Pty Ltd v Port Phillip CC [2004] VCAT 325 (for permit applicants)
- Babalis & Ors v Glen Eira CC and Ors [2003] VCAT 667 (for objectors)
Cancellation of permits
- Brown v Mornington Peninsula SC [2006] VCAT 744 (2 May 2006)
- Ruane & Ors v Swan Hill CC & Anor [2002] VCAT 1355 (7 November 2002)
- Cooper v Surfcoast SC [2000] VCAT 2180 (31 October 2000)
Chicken broiler farms
- Schembri v Cardinia SC [2006] VCAT 2042 (for objectors)
- Baird & Ors v Golden Plains Shire Council [2003] VCAT 668 (for objectors)
- David Proctor v Shire Melton [2001] VCAT 630 (for council)
Development/open space contributions
- Carson Simpson Pty Ltd v Casey CC [2006] VCAT 1725 (for permit applicant)
- Curry v Melton Shire Council [2000] VSC 352 (for council)
- Survey Group Earth Tech Engineering v Port Phillip CC [2005] VCAT 2638 (for permit applicant)
Enforcement
- Central Northeast Development Pty Ltd v Whittlesea CC [2009] VCAT 643 (for Council)
- Upmark Pty Ltd v Melbourne CC [2008] VCAT 2245 (5 November 2008)
- Dennis v A J Baxter Pty Ltd [2008] VCAT 2360 (for objectors)
Environmental crime
- EPA v Exhaust Control Industries (2006, for defendant)
- EPA v Capral Aluminium Ltd (2002, for defendant)
- EPA v Envirogen (2001, for defendant)
Existing use rights
- Patty Malonnes Bar Pty Ltd v Melbourne CC [2010] VCAT 554 (25 March 2010)
- Asia Pacific Hotels Pty Ltd v Melbourne CC [2009] VCAT 2492 (for Council)
- Kraan v Cardinia SC [2006] VCAT 1629 (10 August 2006)
Freeway service centres
- Bredix Pty Ltd v Greater Geelong CC [2009] VCAT 1984 (for permit applicant)
- Carwoode Pty Ltd v Cardinia [2008] VCAT 1334 (for permit applicant)
- Bredix Pty Ltd v Greater Geelong CC [2007] VCAT 818 (for permit applicant)
Heritage
- Urban Design Architects Pty Ltd v Banyule City Council P1098/2009 (for permit applicant)
- Boroondara C42 (PSA) [2005] PPV 32 (for permit applicant)
- East Melbourne Group Inc v Melbourne CC [2004] VCAT 1341 (for Council)
Land Acquisition and Compensation (Valuations)
- Williamstown Bay & River Cruises Pty Ltd v Secretary Department of Infrastructure [2010] VCAT 415 (for Acquiring Authority)
- Stephens v Victorian Urban Development Authority [2010] VCAT 369 (for Claimant)
- Moore v Roads Corporation [2008] VCAT 838 (for Claimant)
Landfill/rehabilitation
- Dennis v A J Baxter Pty Ltd [2008] VCAT 2360 (for objectors)
- Andsand Pty Ltd v Kingston CC [2008] VCAT 1804 (for objectors)
- Skye Environmental Services Pty Ltd v Frankston CC [2006] VCAT 2596 (for Minister for Planning)
Licensed premises
- Orangechapel Pty Ltd v Director of Liquor Licensing [2010] VCAT 110 (for Director)
- The Friendly Backpacker Pty Ltd v Melbourne CC [2008] VCAT 669 (for Council)
- Zanos v Melbourne CC [2006] VCAT 1358 (7 July 2006)
Native Vegetation
- North Burnside Pty Ltd v Melton SC [2009] VCAT 1203 (for DSE)
- Leighton Properties (Vic) Pty Ltd v Melton CC [2008] VCAT 2563 (for DSE)
- Greater Dandenong C87 (PSA) [2008] PPV 82 (for DSE)
Permit extensions
- Yarra Valley Grammar School v Maroondah CC [2008] VCAT 1172 (for school)
- Fraser v Macedon Ranges SC [2008] VCAT 1822 (for permit holder)
- Tylden Nominees PL v Macedon Ranges Shire Council [2004] VCAT 1655 (for permit holder)
Residential
- Greater Geelong C129 (PSA) [2008] PPV 64 (for proponent)
- CAH Pty Ltd v Melbourne CC [2008] VCAT 1199 (for council)
- Urban Property Corporation (Oak Park) Pty Ltd v Moreland CC [2007] VCAT 240 (for permit applicant)
Restrictive covenants
- Fraser & Ors v Di Paolo & Anor [2008] VSC 117 (for Plaintiff)
- Milbex Pty Ltd, Re [2006] VSC 298 (for Plaintiffs)
- Fitt v Luxury Developments Pty Ltd [2000] VSC 258 (for Plaintiffs)
Roads/rail
- Casey C102 (PSA) [2009] PPV 62 (16 July 2009) (pavement width, for Department of Transport)
- Vic Roads v Nillumbik SC & Ors [2002] VCAT 1003 (road width, for VicRoads)
- Bevacqua v Casey CC [2001] VCAT 2264 (at-grade crossing, for Department of Infrastructure)
Schools
- Eltham v College v Nillumbik SC & Ors [2010] VCAT 439 (for objectors)
- Yarra Valley Grammar School v Maroondah CC [2008] VCAT 1172 (for school)
- Campbell v Shire of Macedon [2005] VCAT 2826 (for school)
Shooting ranges
- First Cashmore Pty Ltd v Macedon Ranges SC [2005] VCAT 893 (for objectors)
- Sporting Shooters Association of Australia v Macedon Ranges SC [2004] VCAT 140 (for objectors)
- Bullmore v Greater Geelong CC & Ors [2001] VCAT 445 (for objectors)
Section 173 Agreements
- Solid Investments Australia Pty Ltd v Greater Geelong City Council [2004] VCAT 2356 (for respondents)
Wind Energy Facilities/windfarms
- Perry v Hepburn SC [2007] VCAT 1309 (for permit applicant)
- Dollar Windfarm (PCI) [2005] PPV 72 (for permit applicant)
- Bald Hills Windfarm (EES) [2004] PPV 73 (for objectors)
Works approvals
- Thirteenth Beach Coast Watch Inc v The Environment Protection Authority & Anor [2009] VSC 53 (for applicant)
- Skye Environmental Services Pty Ltd v Frankston CC [2006] VCAT 2596 (for Minister for Planning)
- Flintstones Garden Supplies Centre Pty Ltd v Greater Geelong CC (No 2) [2007] VCAT 1614 (for EPA)
For information about briefing a barrister in a planning case, click here.