Event Outline
The WA Legal Lunchtime Series in partnership with Lavan will bring together speakers with recognised expertise in various aspects of the Western Australian Planning System and provide a platform to educate, inform and provide solutions through short seminars focusing on topics identified by our members.
These sessions will provide the necessary information and practical help for those currently working in the planning profession and looking to improve their understanding of legal issues that impact on town planning in Western Australia.
Presenters will be one partner and one other lawyer from Lavan’s planning, environment and land compensation team.
Get the best value by registering for the full series or just attend the sessions that interest you most.
Please visit here for group bookings
Session One | Tuesday, 2 June 2026 | Unpacking Due Regard and Seriously Entertained
A practical and case-focused examination of two of the most influential concepts in contemporary planning decision-making. This session will explore how “due regard” and “seriously entertained” have been interpreted by the courts and the State Administrative Tribunal, and what those interpretations mean for planners preparing reports, exercising discretion, and defending decisions.
Register for session one only
Session Two | Tuesday, 4 August 2026 | Due diligence series - Considering the environment (State and Federal approvals and offsets and clearing exemptions).
Environmental approvals increasingly shape the feasibility, timing and risk profile of development proposals. This session provides planners with a practical guide to environmental due diligence, including the interaction between State and Commonwealth approvals, native vegetation clearing controls, environmental offsets, and common procedural pitfalls.
Register for session two only
Session Three | Tuesday, 6 October 2026 | Due diligence - Considering hazards (Coastal processes, bushfire)
Planning for hazard-prone land requires careful consideration of both strategic risk and statutory responsibility. This session examines how coastal erosion, inundation and bushfire risk are assessed within the planning framework, with a focus on policy application, evidentiary expectations, and lessons emerging from recent decisions.
Register for session three only
Session Four | Tuesday, 1 December 2026 | What is the State Administrative Tribunal and How Does It Work?
An essential guide for planning professionals to the structure, jurisdiction and practical operation of the State Administrative Tribunal. The session will explain how SAT reviews planning decisions, the conduct of mediation and hearings, and the practical realities of evidence, negotiation and resolving disputes within the Tribunal process.
Register for session four only
Session Five | Tuesday, 2 February 2027 | Best of 2026 case law
A curated review of the most important planning and administrative law decisions of 2026. This session will identify emerging legal themes, analyse the practical implications of recent judgments, and provide guidance on how those decisions are likely to influence future assessment and decision-making practices.
Register for session five only
Session Six | Tuesday, 6 April 2027 | Condition setting - How to Ensure That Conditions Are lawful and able to be Complied With?
Poorly
drafted conditions can undermine approvals, create enforcement difficulties and
expose decision-makers to legal challenge. This practical session examines the
principles governing valid planning conditions, including reasonableness,
certainty, nexus and enforceability, with examples of common drafting problems
and strategies for preparing robust and defensible conditions.
Register for session six only
Terms & Conditions
Registrations cancelled more than 14 days prior to the event date will not incur any fees and a full refund will be granted.
If you cannot attend and you are within 14 days of the event date, you can transfer your ticket to another person.
In all other situations we cannot issue a refund or credit.
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