Expert Witness

Expert Witness

As Austecology’s director and principal wildlife ecologist, Lindsay Agnew has considerable experience in providing expert advice to Queensland’s Land Court, Planning and Environment Court, and Magistrates Court. 

Lindsay has acted as an expert witness providing advice for over 200 matters before the Courts.  Lindsay specializes in matters relating to threatened and migratory fauna, fauna biodiversity, wildlife habitat management, and ecological connectivity. 

This body of work has involved:

  • Assessments of ecological values and investigations for threatened and migratory fauna at sites across Queensland.
  • Experience with an extensive range of projects from two-lot subdivisions to major infrastructure projects.
  • The capacity to assess and contextualize ecological values and potential project impacts.
  • Expertise in both design and critically evaluating options for impact mitigation.
  • Proficiency in interpreting the requirements of a wide variety of local government planning schemes, Commonwealth and State legislation, and regulatory planning policies.

With support from Austecology, Lindsay provides the following services for appeals before the Land Court or the Planning and Environment Court:

  • Technical analysis of ecological constraints.
  • Preparation of specialist technical reports.
  • Mediation representation.
  • Participation in joint experts meeting and reporting processes.
  • Preparation of affidavits and statements of evidence required before the Courts.
  • Provision of oral evidence during appeal matters within the Courts.

Peer Review

Requirements for peer review typically arise from a need to provide confidence that existing work will meet the expectations of regulators and/or other relevant stakeholders.  Austecology has provided peer review services to a variety of consultancies, development proponents, Local, State and Commonwealth Government agencies.

The scope of our assignments ranges from simple due diligence assessments, management plan evaluations, to significant reviews of ecology sections of Environmental Impact Statements for major projects.

We offer a depth of ecological assessment experience and strong appreciation of the range of the regulatory requirements and best practice guidelines that are relevant to ecological assessment. 

Our Projects

Project Sea Dragon

Seafarms Group Limited proposed to develop a substantive aquaculture project located on the Legune coastal floodplain within the extreme north-west corner of the Northern Territory.

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Coomera Connector

The Coomera Connector (sometimes referred to as the Second M1), is a future state-controlled road extending some 45 kilometres from the northern Gold Coast to Loganholme.

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