Michael Batty

A judge has found that new planning rules that make solar farm development applications more onerous in Queensland applied retrospectively to X-Elio’s proposed solar project in the Western Downs region. 

Gold Coast Council has brought a High Court case over a decision that found the city must consider the provision of affordable housing in assessing an application by developer Cielo Group for a luxury beachfront highrise.

An appeals court has shot down a challenge to a valuation for the country’s largest solar farm and said the Land Valuation Act should be amended to clarify the definition of an ‘urban purpose.’

A court has declined a developer's appeal of a Sunshine Coast council's rejection of plans to build a BP service station as well as a McDonald's and KFC at vacant land in Maroochydore.

The Anglican Church's Brisbane diocese can't block the installation of ethanol tanks at a brewery adjoining the Francis Theological college, with a judge finding no "unacceptable risk” of explosion.

Clive Palmer has lost his bid to overturn a council decision to reject his plan for a residential development at a Gold Coast flood plain, with a judge noting that would-be residents would be subject to the “adverse odours” of a nearby sewerage treatment plant.

Telstra has failed in its appeal to the High Court to hear its battle with Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane over the planned upgrade of its payphone network across Australia.

Telstra has lost an appeal in a case brought by Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane city councils over a planned upgrade of its payphone network across Australia, with an appeals court pointing to an "apparent paradox" in the telco's claim it did not need planning permits to install its next generation digital phone booths.

Telstra has won its battle with Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane over a planned upgrade of its payphone network across Australia, with a judge ruling the teleco did not need planning permits to install the next generation, digital phone booths.