About Caitlin
Caitlin is a Senior Associate in the Project Approvals team, specialising in environmental approvals and regulation, resources, renewable energy projects and Aboriginal cultural heritage and native title.
Caitlin has a diverse background in acting for various clients, including individuals, State Government departments and both private and publicly listed companies.
She plays a key role in project delivery, focusing particularly on areas such as environmental approvals and native title and cultural heritage. Caitlin frequently assists clients with government relations, strategic compliance, and incident response, leveraging her experience in government.
Caitlin also has considerable experience working as a State Government environmental litigation lawyer. During which, she had significant involvement in a number of high-profile Land Court appeals, regularly appeared in Magistrates’ Courts across Queensland and the Planning and Environment Court, handling matters involving environmental compliance and project approval appeals.
Her broad experience means she is able to expertly navigate key issues and risks, while also providing support to clients across all aspects of regulatory approvals requirements, strategy, and compliance.
Prior to joining McCullough Roberston, Caitlin worked in an In-house legal role providing strategic advice on portfolio legislation for three government agencies (Department of Resources; Department of Environment, Science and Innovation; and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries).
Specialisations
Experience
Aboriginal cultural heritage & native title
Negotiating various cultural heritage and Indigenous Land Use Agreements for carbon and future renewable energy projects across Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia
Land Court appeals
Acting in Land Court proceedings in relation to mining objections hearings and appeals against estimated rehabilitation cost decisions.
Offsets
Advising on approvals strategies, environmental impact assessments, and securing offsets to facilitate the delivery of major projects.
Fisheries, agriculture and forestry
Providing strategic advice to privatised companies involving requirements under the Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014. Advising private quarry operators and departmental clients on various issues and procedures involving sales permits.
Environmental compliance and enforcement
Advising clients on incident response, compliance risk, and appropriately responding to and taking action in response to enforcement notices issued by Departments.
Resources
While on secondment to Senex Energy, assisted with land access issues including negotiation strategies with landholders. Also advised various clients on mining approvals, rehabilitation requirements for abandoned mines and petroleum and gas related approvals for underground ventures.