Robert Forrester

Robert specialises in environmental, planning and major infrastructure law. 

He is principally briefed to advise and appear in respect of:

• major projects and associated inquiries and advisory committees under the Environment Effects Act and Planning and Environment Act
• applications for judicial review of environmental and planning related decisions, and appeals from decisions of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to the Supreme Court of Victoria
• Planning and Environment Act matters, including:
  • review of decisions in respect of planning permits, and enforcement order proceedings
  • Planning Panel and Advisory Committee hearings
• statutory authorities and approvals, including approvals, licences, notices and levies under the Environment Protection Act 2017 (Vic) and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Cth)
• water law, including in respect of entitlements, liability, management and use rights under the Victorian and Commonwealth Water Acts

Robert has been recently briefed to advise and appear, led and unled, in relation to:

• energy: 
  • Marinus Link Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee [2024] PPV 62
  • Viva Energy Gas Terminal Inquiry and Advisory Committee (EES) [2022] PPV 62
  • Crib Point Project Inquiry (EES) [2021] PPV 11
  • Pacific Hydro Yaloak South Pty Ltd v Moorabool SC [2019] VCAT 11
  • renewable energy projects
  • various approvals including approvals strategy and judicial review of relevant decisions
• mining and resources:
  • Fosterville Gold Mine Sustained Operations Project Inquiry [2025] PPV 9
  • Goschen Mineral Sands Project Inquiry and Advisory Committee [2024] PPV 24
  • Fingerboards Mineral Sands Inquiry (EES) [2021] PPV 80
• major infrastructure: 
  • Suburban Rail Loop East Stage Inquiry (EES) [2022] PPV 37
  • hospital, stadia, rail and other civic infrastructure proposals
• environmental protection, approvals and regulatory action: 
  • Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project EES Central Inquiry and Advisory Committee (EES) [2023] PPV 17; ER Central – Vinifera and Nyah Projects (2023) and Victorian Murray Floodplain Restoration Project ER Central – Burra Creek Project (2023)
  • various proceedings in respect of permissions and enforcement action under the Environment Protection Act 2017 (Vic) and Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth)
• urban renewal and structure planning:
  • Macaulay Structure Plan
  • Suburban Rail Loop East structure plans
  • various growth area and renewal area structure plans
• proceedings relating to decisions under the Planning and Environment Act, including:
  • Ibrahim v Greater Bendigo City Council [2025] VSC 6 (appeal from VCAT, unled)
  • Steel Cement Pty Ltd v Maribyrnong CC [2025] VCAT 668 (regarding cement production and land separation, led by Chris Townshend KC)
  • Fabcot Pty Ltd v Maribyrnong CC [2025] VCAT 378 (regarding land use and economic planning, led by Adrian Finanzio SC)
  • Ramsay v Queenscliffe BC [2024] VCAT 1079 and [2025] VCAT 555 (regarding helicopter landing site and relevance of policy including Statement of Planning Policy, unled)
  • GFM Investment Management Limited ATF GFM Home Trust II Subtrust No 9 v Port Phillip CC [2024] VCAT 458 (build to rent development, led by Emily Porter SC) 
  • 910 Donnybrook Road Pty Ltd v Whittlesea CC [2024] VCAT 592 (joinder of third party, led by Juliet Forsyth SC)
  • Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd v Greater Bendigo CC (Corrected) (Red Dot) [2023] VCAT 1341 (regarding Cultural Heritage Management Plan requirements, unled)
  • Valente v Monash CC [2023] VCAT 729 (whether activities ‘use’ or ‘development’ of land, unled)
  • Box v Stonnington CC [2023] VCAT 715, Box v Stonnington CC (Red Dot) [2023] VCAT 289 and Box v Stonnington CC [2024] VCAT 149 (parties to proceeding; relevance of Commonwealth law raised in statements of grounds to review by Tribunal; merits review, unled and led by Nick Tweedie SC) 
  • Barro Group Pty Ltd v Cardinia SC [2023] VCAT 252 (interpretation of permit and Work Authority, led by Emily Porter SC)
  • Wrixon Manor Pty Ltd v Bayside CC [2022] VCAT 315 (aged care in residential zone, led by Nick Tweedie SC)
  • Odyssey House Victoria v Benalla RCC [2021] VCAT 1542 (residential drug and alcohol service, led by Paul Connor KC)
  • Greater Western Water v Macedon Ranges SC [2021] VCAT 1514 (essential services communication, led by Marita Foley SC)
  • Latitude 38 Pty Ltd v Mornington Peninsula SC [2019] VCAT 1796 (existing use rights and characterisation of use, led by Paul Connor KC)