Rebecca Davie
Rebecca is a leading member of our Environment, Planning and Communities team.
Rebecca has deep experience advising government projects and the energy sector. For over 15 years, she has acted on State-significant major projects, large transactions with material environmental issues and significant environmental litigation. Her practice focusses on energy transition and major government projects. Rebecca has extensive specialist experience in obtaining approvals for these projects. She provides her clients with comprehensive strategic advice to navigate the complex regime of NSW and Commonwealth approvals and court appeals.
Rebecca advises on land access and acquisition, strata scheme renewal, Crown land and Aboriginal land rights, contaminated land, pollution incidents and environmental crisis management, biodiversity and threatened species, social impact and stakeholder engagement, heritage, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water law, Commonwealth regimes including the EPBC Act, the Offshore Energy Infrastructure regime and NGERS, native title and ESG.
Rebecca is a ‘go to person’ on environmental crisis management, providing advice to clients as incidents unfold. She has led complex negotiations with commercial parties and environment and planning regulators. Her focus is on early identification and minimisation of project risks. Her science and project management background assists her to bridge the gap for clients between complex technical matters, legal risks and commercial objectives.
In addition to approvals for major projects, Rebecca’s government practice includes advising on access to information under the GIPA Act and response to calls for papers by the NSW Upper House under Standing Order 52.
Best Lawyers recognises Rebecca in the list of ‘Best Lawyers Australia for Planning and Environmental Law’.
Background
Rebecca holds a Master of Project Management, Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Science (Geography) each from the University of Sydney. She is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia.
Experience & expertise
Selected matters
- NSW Treasury and Energy Corporation of NSW on development of the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone network infrastructure including environment and planning approvals under a Critical State infrastructure pathway, compulsory acquisition of land and complex third-party arrangements.
- Marinus Link Pty Ltd on the high-speed electricity interconnector between Victoria and Tasmania and the complex multi-jurisdictional environment and planning approvals required across Victoria, Tasmania and Commonwealth offshore waters.
- State significant development applications for various renewables projects including ENGIE ANZ for the Hills of Gold Wind Farm; Global Power Generation for the Paling Yards Wind Farm and Crookwell 2 Wind Farm; Tilt Renewables for the Rye Park Wind Farm; New Energy Solar on the Manildra Solar Farm and Beryl Solar Farm.
- Western Parkland City Authority on the establishment of the Western Parkland City and Aerotropolis, including land use planning, utilities and first-in-kind infrastructure planning.
- Lendlease on a disputed strata renewal plan under the Strata Schemes Development Act 2015.
