Paul Wilson
Paul Wilson

Paul Wilson

Partner

Brisbane

+61 7 3259 7193 | +61 417 430 407
paul.wilson@ashurstperkins.com

Introduction

Paul helps major project proponents navigate a broad range of complex environment and planning matters across the full project life cycle.

Paul Wilson is a partner in our planning, environment and first nations practice. 

Paul has advised on a broad range of complex environment and planning matters for some of Australia's largest resources, renewables, infrastructure and energy projects.  His experience spans the full project life cycle, from regulatory approvals, impact assessment and third-party challenge, through to compliance, incident management, environmental prosecutions, rehabilitation and closure.  

  • Rio Tinto | Lead partner | Providing ongoing advice on environment, planning and water approval and compliance issues for Rio Tinto's $1.9 billion Amrun Project, as well as its Weipa operations, in North Queensland. 
  • Industrial client | Lead partner | Acting on a prosecution by the Queensland environmental regulator for willful environmental offences involving potential penalties of approximately $14.5 million, including successfully negotiating downgrading of the charges.
  • Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning | Lead partner | Leading a team of lawyers across a range of disciplines on preparation of the legal contribution to reports supporting funding decisions for the Moreton Bay and Logan Indoor Sports Centers – now both designated "Authority venues" for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – including detailed advice on planning and environmental approvals pathways, options and risks.
  • Resource client | Lead partner | Advising on all aspects of responding to a significant environmental incident at a Queensland mine site, including advising on incident notification, statutory notices, regulator engagement, remediation and long-term regulatory exposure.
  • Cross River Rail Delivery Authority | Lead partner | Leading a team advising on complex claims for compensation arising from sub-surface compulsory acquisition for the Cross River Rail Project, including acting on an application to the Land Court, and on appeal to the Land Appeal Court, on a critical preliminary issue.
  • Cubico | Lead advisor | Advising on complex environment and planning approval issues, vegetation management, offsets, and other State and Federal regulatory requirements relevant to the development of the Wambo Wind Farm.
  • Anglo American | Lead partner | Advising on environment and planning approval and compliance matters for Anglo American's Queensland coal assets, with a focus on Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) advice.
  • Renewable energy clients including X-Elio | Lead partner | Acting on applicant and submitter appeals to the Queensland Planning and Environment Court under the Planning Act 2016 (Qld).
  • Infrastructure clients | Lead advisor | Advising on contaminated land matters (with a particular focus on PFAS), including statutory notification obligations, potential liability, and investigation, management and remediation options.
  • Renewable energy clients | Lead partner | Advising on the implications of rapid State legislative reform for renewable energy projects, including preparation of the first Community Benefit Agreement signed in Queensland under the new Community Benefit Scheme.

Latest thinking

Carousel: clicking the "Previous" or "Next" button changes the content between the buttons.