Land and Environment Court of NSW

New Acting Commissioner Appointments

The Chief Judge is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Peter Kempthorne, Mr Paul Knight, Mr Matthew Pullinger and Ms Jennifer Smithson as Acting Commissioners of the Court for the period commencing 8 April 2020 and expiring on 24 February 2021.

Acting Commissioner Peter Kempthorne

Mr Kempthorne has a Diploma in Real Estate Valuation from Sydney TAFE (1978) and an Associate Professional Certificate in specialist retail valuation (NSW Retail leases). He is a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute and a certified practising valuer (NSW). Mr Kempthorne has over 30 years applied experience as a valuer. He has been in private practice since 1995, in an independent real estate and valuation consultancy and has extensive experience in all types of property and rental valuations. Mr Kempthorne has been actively involved in professional bodies. He has been a member of the NSW Property Management Committee (1992-1996) and NSW Division, Property Management Award Judge (1994-2000) for the Property Council of Australia.

Acting Commissioner Paul Knight

Mr Knight has a Diploma in Real Estate Valuation from Sydney TAFE (1986), and commenced training as a valuer in 1979 with the Department of the Valuer General. Mr Knight has over 40 years applied experience as a valuer having previously been Assistant Director of Valuation Objections and Appeals with the Valuer General dealing with all land values issued in NSW and subsequently Assistant Director of Valuation Operations in NSW, with the NSW Land and Property Information. In 2016, Mr Knight retired from the public sector and established his own private valuation consultancy, specialising in advice on statutory valuation and land tax liability. Mr Knight has extensive experience in valuation of land under the Valuation of Land Act 1916 and the Compulsory Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991. He is a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute.

Acting Commissioner Matthew Pullinger

Mr Pullinger holds the degrees of Bachelor of Science (Architecture), Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) and Master of Urban Design, all from the University of Sydney. He is a registered architect in NSW and the ACT. Mr Pullinger has 27 years of applied experience as an architect and urban designer. Mr Pullinger has received many awards for Sustainable Architecture and Urban Design and led a range of projects, such as the 2040 Master Plan for Moore Park, 60 Martin Place, and the Summer Hill Flour Mill. Mr Pullinger has been actively involved in professional bodies. He is a past President and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Architects and a Board Member of the NSW Architects Registration Board (2013-2015).

Acting Commissioner Jennifer Smithson

Ms Smithson has served as a full time Commissioner of the Court since 2016 and an Acting Commissioner of the Court for five years prior. Ms Smithson is a town planner, with a Bachelor of Arts, Urban and Regional Planning (with Distinction) and a Master of Town and Country Planning.  She is a Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) and has served as WA State President and National Councillor of the PIA. She has 30 years applied experience in NSW and WA in the private and public sectors.  She has served as a sessional member of the State Administrative Tribunal of WA.

Interim Procedure for the Issuing of Class 5 Proceedings

The Court has issued an interim Protocol for the issuing of Class 5 proceedings at the Land and Environment Court. Link to the Protocol.

Telephone and Audio Visual Link Conferencing Protocol

The Court has issued a Protocol for using audio link and audio visual link at the Land and Environment Court. Link to the Protocol.

Changes in Registry filing procedures

From Tuesday 24 March 2020, the counter of the LEC Registry will not be personally attended by Registry staff. All documents should be filed by Online Registry, DX, post or courier, as previously advised. If filing of hard copy documents is necessary, a box has been provided in the public foyer near the counter for filing documents. The box will be regularly cleared and the documents processed by Registry staff and the processed documents returned to the parties.

8 April 2020

Last updated:

02 Jun 2020

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