David Baird

Profile

David is a respected environment, local government and planning law specialist with over 28 years experience. He has one of Sydney's most successful local government, planning and governance practices - evidenced by clients including several high profile NSW councils and the Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales.

David has developed industry acknowledged expertise and recognition by regularly acting on behalf of Local Councils, Government Departments and Government Authorities. He has successfully represented clients on a wide range of complex matters including environmental disputes, pollution and control regulation, environmental impact studies, environmental audits and planning permission.

As a leading solicitor advocate in NSW, David has personally appeared in over 300 contested hearings and achieved a success rate exceeding 85%.

David is a part-time lecturer in Local Government and Planning Law at the University of NSW. He is a sought after speaker on a wide range of local government topics and an independent special investigator regularly assisting the Department of Local Government.

David’s experience includes:

• Gaining planning and environmental approvals for large-scale projects;
• Numerous leading cases in the Land and Environment Court proceedings in every class of its jurisdiction;
• Commissions of Inquiry, particularly in relation to re-zoning of commercial precincts, Inquiries appointed under the Heritage Act 1977 and Inquiries established under Local Government Act and Regulations, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, the interpretation of environmental planning instruments and the procedural steps to be undertaken in creating Local Government plans, development control plans and policies;
• Acting on Environmental audits and compliance programmes and prosecuting offences in this area;
• Investigating failed developments at several NSW Councils;
• Appearing as advocate in Court of Appeal Optus v Canada Bay;
• Probity Auditing for numerous Local Government clients.