Henry is one of the foremost planning and environment project and native title lawyers in Australia. He specialises in project approval, development and planning law, environmental and natural resources law, environmental dispute resolution and native title and cultural heritage law.
He is a skilled negotiator in project planning and approval processes and is a specialist litigator in the Planning and Environment Court and Land Court. Henry’s clients encompass infrastructure providers including government-owned corporations, State Government departments and local government, as well as energy and resources and manufacturing and development companies.
Key deals
Orora – Petrie Mill redevelopment
Advising on contaminated land issues associated with the sale of the development site, including regulatory requirements under contaminated land provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1994, contractual risk sharing and common law liability.
Logan and Gold Coast City Councils and Beaudesert Shire Council
Acted in disputes including defence of judicial review of decisions to undertake public projects and award tenders, planning and environment disputes in the Planning and Environment Court, commercial disputes and defamation (in all court jurisdictions).
Cape York Pastoralists and National Farmers Federation
Acted in Federal Court proceedings commenced by the Wik Peoples and in National Native Titles Tribunal mediation convened on Cape York Peninsula.
Acted for a pastoralists and mining company
Acted in a native title (Sunset Western Yalanji) claim in North Queensland. This resulted in the first-ever negotiated agreement between native titleholders and pastoralists coupled with a determination of Native Title by the Federal Court.
Property lessees
Acted in the Dingaal Native Title claim for lessees of property on Lizard Island. Participated in mediation and advised on the applications. Acted in litigation by native title claimants.
Property development companies
Acted in potential claims by native title interests including negotiations with State Government.
Advised on Indigenous land use agreements to facilitate projects and drafted and secured Indigenous Land Use Agreements for the Gold Coast Exhibition Centre, Mariners Cove Project, Burdekin Pipeline Project and Townsville Cruise Terminal Project.
Queensland Department of State Development Innovation
Advised on offshore jurisdictional issues and regulatory regimes applying to the proposed PNG Gas Pipeline. Advised on requirements for a 'significant infrastructure facility' status under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971.