Eliza Bergin specialises in planning law, environmental law, land valuation, compulsory acquisition of land and public and administrative law. Eliza appears in all jurisdictions including the Federal Court, Supreme Court, Tribunals, Panels and Inquiries. In 2019-2021, Eliza was appointed as a Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Eliza is briefed by private and public sector clients in merits review, judicial review, regulatory enforcement, prosecutions, trials and appeals in the following areas:
- planning scheme amendments and permit applications;
- statutory and common law claims;
- public inquiries;
- commercial disputes;
- mineral resources authorisations;
- civil and criminal enforcement (environment, planning);
- cultural and built heritage;
- native vegetation and other ecological issues;
- water, flooding and fire events;
- valuation disputes, land tax and ratings;
- compulsory acquisition of land;
- loss on sale and planning 'blight' compensation;
- review of administrative decisions including Judicial Review.
Currently, Eliza is a legal editor for the Victorian Planning Reports. In 2022, Eliza published a podcast on the new Environment Protection Act 2017. In 2021, Eliza and Peter RD Gray QC (now Justice Gray of the Supreme Court of Victoria) published an article on compulsory notices in statutory inquiries and Royal Commissions. Eliza is recommended in Best Lawyers in Australia (2022, 2023, 2024).
Background
Prior to coming to the Bar, Eliza practiced as a solicitor for 17 years:
- For 8 years, Eliza practiced in commercial law, including as a Senior Associate at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons). Eliza ran numerous cases for the largest retail company in Australia and NZ including the roll-out of bulky goods stores and petroleum facilities across Victoria. She also advised industry and commercial clients on buffer land management issues, native vegetation offsets, contaminated land claims for damages, vendor and purchaser due diligence, and the 2009 Royal Commission into Black Saturday Bushfires.
- In government practice for 9 years, as a Principal Solicitor at the Victorian Government Solicitor's Office and Legal Officer (parliamentary draftsperson) in the Office of Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Eliza advised Departments and Agencies regarding a wide range of issues including planning and environment matters arising during the 2014 Inquiry into the Hazelwood Mine Fire, wind farms and renewable energy facilities, compulsory acquisition of land by acquiring authorities, water law, electoral law prosecutions, professional discipline of builders, surveyors and architects and anti-corruption investigations by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission.
