Peter O'Farrell’s practice focuses on development approvals, planning, environment, statutory approvals, administrative and governmental law.
Peter appears and advises in respect of development approval for the full range of land development and use applications including:
- renewable energy faclilities;
- residential projects;
- retail developments;
- telecommunications infrastructure;
- land subdivision/development;
- infrastructure projects;
- infrastructure contributions;
- water matters;
- rezoning;
- recycling/landfill/mining;
- restrictive covenants;
- land acquisition/compensation;
- heritage;
- environmental assessment involving State/Commonwealth processes.
He appears in a broad range of matters before VCAT, Advisory Committees, Planning Panels Victoria, the Magistrates' Court and in appeals in planning and related matters before the Supreme Court. He appears in other Tribunals including the AFL, AFLW and VFL Tribunal, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, the Heritage Council and Building Appeals Board.
He has held a number of roles including General Editor of the Victorian Planning Reports, co-author of VCAT Decisions in Planning News the monthly publication of the Planning Institute of Australia (Victoria), Board member of the Victorian Planning and Environmental Law Association. author of the Planning and Environment section of the Lawyers Practice Manual and Chair of the St Monica's Primary School Advisory Board.
He is one of the few members of the Bar who practiced as a town planner before he was a barrister. As a town planner he acted both privately and publicly in a range of strategic and statutory roles. Prior to signing the Bar Roll, Peter was a Senior Associate with Phillips Fox (now DLA Piper).
He is a Life Member of Brunswick North Old Boys Amateur Football Club in the Victorian Amateur Football Association. He is also an active member of the Victorian Athletic League and is a Co-Convenor of the Killara Foundation Indigenous Darwin and Katherine Gift.
Victorian Bar Committee memberships
- Supreme Court - The Victorian Compensation and Planning Users' Group.
- Monitor - Commercial Bar Association - Environmental, Planning & Local Government Section.
- Barristers Chambers Limited Isaacs Chambers Steering Committee
- Victorian Bar - International Advocacy Training Committee
