M: +61 411 170 080
T: +61 7 3233 8869
E: smacnaughton@mccullough.com.au

Recommended Lawyer
Planning and Environment
Legal 500 Asia Pacific

Stuart leads a team of lawyers who practice in town planning, property development, local government and environmental law. He has practised exclusively in those areas of law for over 26 years.

Straight-talking, he is as economical with his words as he is with his time and can swiftly appraise a project and formulate advice. Distillation of complex legal issues into clear recommendations is a hallmark of Stuart’s approach to all issues.

His expertise includes advising clients on the requirements of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (QLD) and Environmental Protection Act 1994 (QLD), and all their predecessors and related laws.

He provides specialist advice on major developments including master-planned communities, town planning appeals, drafting planning documentation, and infrastructure agreements and advising on the enforcement of planning schemes, local laws and regulatory laws.

Stuart has been involved in nearly every aspect of acting for and against local governments and government-owned corporation clients and has a thorough working knowledge of the provisions of the Local Government Act 2009 (QLD) and other legislation affecting local authorities including the Acquisition of Land Act 1967 (QLD).

Stuart is a committee member on the Property Council of Australia’s Queensland Planning and Infrastructure Committee where he provides advisory on state and local governments’ regulatory environment as it relates to land use planning and infrastructure planning. He is also an active member of various Urban Development Institute of Australia committees including the Brisbane City Council Advisory Policy Committee and Planning and Environment Policy Committee.

A passionate advocate for environmental law and future-focused town planning initiatives, Stuart actively engages with local industry groups through his membership with the Local Government Managers Australia, the Royal Australian Planning Institute (Queensland) and the Australasian Land Groundwater Association (Queensland).

Read Stuart’s latest publication

  Queensland’s affordable housing approval pathway is ready to go

  From clean-up to compliance – new amendments to the contaminated land provisions

  Introducing the Environmental Enforcement Order

  Changes to the forced EA amendment process

Experience

Sunland Group

Acting for Sunland Group in the successful appeal against the approval of their Grace on Coronation development.

Banyan Tree

Acting for Banyan Tree in securing approvals for Kangaroo Point development.

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures

Advising Fotowatio Renewable Ventures in relation to a solar project in Clare and ministerial call in.

Unitywater

Advising Unitywater on the structuring and preparation of more than of 20 infrastructure agreements in the past 18 months, including the Caloundra South PDA.

Department of Transport and Main Roads

Advising Department of Transport and Main Roads on and negotiating an infrastructure agreement involving a Stockland development in Caloundra.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council

Acting for the Lockyer Valley Regional Council in the successful defence of an appeal regarding a Motocross Facility.