Legal Counsel - Planning & Environment

Moreton Bay Regional Council; Strathpine; Hybrid; AUD 104,000 - 131,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid, flexible working

9 day fortnight

Salary increases via EBA

STARS Study, Training And Research

Novated leases

Discounted health insurance

Fitness Passport program

Job summary

City of Moreton Bay is seeking a Legal Counsel - Planning and Environment to join our growing in-house team in Strathpine. You will provide expert planning and environment advice, support major urban development, and manage external counsel for litigation and regulatory matters.

You will work in a collaborative environment, contributing to governance, property, and commercial matters while enjoying a hybrid work arrangement and a 9-day fortnight schedule.

Qualifications

• Experience as a planning and environment lawyer in a local government setting preferred.
• Strong advisory capabilities across planning, development regulation and environment matters.
• Ability to identify legal risks and provide practical, accurate advice.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on planning, development assessment, infrastructure charging, environmental regulation and local government decision-making.
• Advise on interpretation and application of planning legislation and local planning instruments.
• Instruct and manage external solicitors and counsel in litigation and other dispute resolution processes.
• Support major urban development, infrastructure and community projects.
• Review and draft legal documents, reports and governance materials.

Skills

Planning law

Environment law

Regulatory compliance

Legal research

Litigation support

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

The Details:

• Permanent Full Time | 9 day fortnight
• $103,597 pa to $130,980 pa + 12% super (level 5 to 7)
• 72.5hour fortnight
• Hybrid, flexible working environment, including some work from home days.
• Location: Strathpine

Join City of Moreton Bay as a Legal Counsel - Planning and Environment, and help shape and enhance our communities for today and tomorrow.

We’re excited to be growing our in-house legal team and are seeking a talented Legal Counsel to join us.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced planning and environment lawyer looking to grow their career and make a meaningful impact in Local Government.

As part of the collaborative and high-performing legal team, you will strengthen and expand Council’s planning and environment capability while contributing to the team’s broader legal function across property, commercial contracting, construction / infrastructure contracting, governance and dispute resolution.

In this team, no two days are the same. You will:

• While the primary focus of this role is planning and environment law, you will also provide advice from time to time across other areas of local government practice, including governance, property, commercial and regulatory matters, as business needs require.
• Provide legal advice on planning, development assessment, infrastructure charging, environmental regulation and local government decision-making and related legal matters.
• Advise on the interpretation and application of planning legislation, local planning instruments, development conditions and other statutory processes.
• Support Council's planning, environmental, regulatory and operational functions by identifying and managing legal risk.
• Advise on planning and environment litigation, including merits appeals, enforcement proceedings and declarations and assist with other disputes and proceedings as required.
• Instruct and manage external solicitors and counsel in proceedings before Courts, tribunals and other dispute resolution processes.
• Provide legal support for major urban development, infrastructure and community projects.
• Advise on environmental compliance, contamination and other regulatory issues.
• Review and draft legal documents, reports, statutory notices and other legal instruments.
• Develop and maintain precedents, policies, governance frameworks and operational guidance materials.
• Monitor legislative reforms and emerging issues affecting planning, development, environmental regulation and local government operations.

While the primary focus of this role is planning and environment law, you will also provide advice from time to time across other areas of local government practice, including governance, property, commercial and regulatory matters, as business needs require.

Position Description - Legal Counsel

About you

This is an exciting opportunity to join a large and growing in-house legal team during a period of transformation and expansion.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, people-focused environment where you’ll be supported to develop your skills, strengthen relationships across the business and contribute to delivering contemporary, best-practice legal services.

You will:

• Advise on matters that directly influence the future growth and development of the region.
• Gain exposure to Planning and Environment Court litigation and complex regulatory issues.
• Work on major infrastructure and city-building projects.
• Partner with planners, engineers, environmental specialists and senior leaders across Council.
• Influence strategic decisions that have lasting community impact.

This role offers the opportunity to work on a diverse range of advisory and litigation matters including Planning and Environment Court proceedings, enforcement actions, negotiated development outcomes and complex statutory interpretation issues.

Local Government offers a diverse and interesting portfolio of work, giving you exposure to a broad range of legal areas while deepening your expertise.

If you’ve ever considered a move into Local Government, this is an ideal time to join us as we grow.

Why City of Moreton Bay?

What you do with your life matters. It’s the same with your career.

We’re the third-largest council in Australia and one of the fastest-growing areas. As Australia’s newest city, we’re building something that’s never been done before: a new kind of city, inspired and empowered by a new kind of council.

This is your opportunity to develop skills and experience in a truly unique place, at a truly unique point in time.

At City of Moreton Bay, we’re focused on the vital work we do today. But we’re also focused on the future. On what can be - for our city, our Council and your career.

Here’s what you’ll love about a career with us:

• See it. To build a city of the future, first, you have to see it. The polycentric city we’re building will bring greater prosperity, sustainability and affordability to our city. This is your chance to contribute to something that’s never been done before.
• Shape it. You’ll get hands-on in a rewarding career, serving and strengthening our communities for today and tomorrow. Our work is diverse, interesting and it matters – and it’s yours to shape and own.
• Live it. Contribute to the city you and your family want to live in and enjoy the lifestyle you deserve. And if you don’t live here, you’ll still find pride and connection in so many ways with our successful, resilient team.

You’ll also enjoy a range of other benefits:

• Find a better work-life balance with a nine-day (72.5-hour) fortnight, plus a hybrid, flexible working environment with some work-from-home days.
• Negotiated salary increases locked in through our EBA- 4% in July 2027 (or CPI capped at 4.5%, whichever is greater).
• Advance your skills and career through our Study, Training And Research Scheme (STARS).
• Make your pay go further with salary packaging options on novated leases, superannuation payments, smartphones and devices.
• Prioritise your health and wellbeing with discounted health insurance, free annual flu vaccinations and our Fitness Passport Program.
• Get support when you and your family need it most with our 24/7 confidential counselling service and Mates in Construction program.
• Our Strathpine office has local parking on site and is close to public transport networks, making for an easy commute.

Ready for a career that matters?

Join City of Moreton Bay, and help shape our city of the future.

As part of the recruitment process, applicants will be required to undergo a National Criminal History Check.

Any questions - please contact our Careers team at [e-mail].

For more information about City of Moreton Bay and to stay across what's happening in our city, follow us on LinkedIn.

Your Future City.
See it. Shape it. Live It.
City of Moreton Bay extends across the traditional lands of the Jinibara, Kabi Kabi, and Turrbal peoples, and we acknowledge and pay respects to Traditional Custodians. We believe diversity of thought, background and experience creates better outcomes for our people and communities, and we strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of all ages, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds.