Tess Kerridge

Expertise

Tess is a senior associate in our Planning, Environment and Sustainability group who specialises in planning, development and environmental law, compulsory acquisition, planning litigation and property matters.

She provides advice to a broad range of clients including local government, statutory authorities, large and small scale property developers, and both claimants and acquiring authorities in compulsory acquisition matters. Tess has extensive experience in planning permit appeals and various environmental law appeals before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal as well as appeals to the Supreme Court. Tess believes in providing clear, concise, practical and commercial legal advice that delivers prompt and high quality outcomes for her clients.

Experience

Tess' experience includes:

• acted for a local council in a panel hearing before Planning Panels Victoria in relation to several solar farm planning permit applications
• acted for a public policy body in landfill expansion litigation before VCAT.
• acted for a private client in an application to VCAT for a hot springs facility
•  acted for a private client in a geothermal water license appeal to VCAT that concerned ‘take and use’ water licenses, groundwater contamination and a hot springs facility.
• acted for a private client in a flooding claim before VCAT.
• acted for a local council in the compulsory acquisitions of land required to facilitate the development of a public car park, including administering the acquisition strategy, managing numerous landowners and occupants, negotiating compensation payments and land swap arrangements.
• advised, coordinated and delivered the creation of numerous water, sewerage and gas pipeline easements for statutory authorities.
• acted for local councils, statutory  authorities and private developers in drafting and advising on Section 173 Agreements
• acted for a statutory authority in drafting and negotiating agreements that deliver works in kind, vesting of land and/or financial contributions in connection with fulfilling Growth Areas Infrastructure Contributions requirements for land within the Mickleham North region.
• acted in planning scheme amendment panel hearings for interested parties in various matters.
• acted for a local council in a planning enforcement matter before VCAT in relation to illegal use of land 
• acted for a developer in a planning appeal to VCAT in relation to a $150 million mixed use development