Brendan Bateman

Clayton Utz
Partner Sydney

The "well respected" Brendan Bateman is praised for his "years of experience and specialist knowledge… I'm very impressed with the level of service; he spends time understanding his client and their needs."

– Chambers Asia Pacific

Overview

Brendan brings over three decades of experience as an expert in environmental, planning, climate change and administrative law. Notably, he advises on planning approvals and environmental impact assessments under both Federal and State legislation. As a founding director of the Carbon Market Institute, he leads our Climate Change and Sustainability Group, advising government and corporate clients on climate-related risks and policy implications on the transition to a low-emissions economy.

Notable Work
  • EnergyCo: advising on the establishment of various renewable energy zones and priority transmission line projects in NSW to facilitate large scale renewable energy projects.
  • Transgrid: advising on environmental assessment and planning approval requirements and land acquisition in respect of numerous new transmission line and upgrade projects including Snowy 2.0, Central West-Orana REZ augmentation and Energy Connect projects.
  • Transport for NSW (and predecessor agencies): advising on property, planning and environmental issues including land acquisition strategies and legal proceedings relating to the Sydney Gateway, NorthConnex, WestConnex, M6, M7 and M12 Motorway projects.
  • Sydney Metro: advising on planning approval pathways, land acquisition strategies and the compulsory acquisition of land for the purpose of the Sydney Metro Northwest, City & Southwest, West (Stages 1 and 2) and Western Sydney Airport projects.
  • QIC: advised on project design, ERF eligibility and environmental market issues in the establishment of a natural capital fund operating land-based projects which include the generation of ACCUs and reef credits with ESG co-benefits.
  • Sydney Water: advising on the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre and acquisition strategy for reticulated pipeline network to service Western Sydney Airport and Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
  • TfNSW: advised on the implementation of the Newcastle Integrated Services Project and Newcastle Urban Renewal and Transport Program including the truncation of part of the Newcastle rail line and approval and delivery of the Newcastle Light Rail project. The project was the subject of legal proceeding ultimately to the High Court.
  • National clients: advises on reporting obligations under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS), obligations under the Safeguard Mechanism and trading in carbon and other green rights.
  • Corporate and government clients: advises on land contamination and remediation issues including obligations to report contaminated sites and site audit processes.
  • NSW Government: advised on complex planning and environment issues for the $7 billion Barangaroo urban renewal project.
Insights
Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 55: PFAS controls, renewable energy, koalas, and critical ecological listings
26 Feb 2026 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 54: EPBC Act reforms, climate adaptation progress, and streamlined environmental legislation
24 Dec 2025 | Article
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Fundamental reforms to Australia's environmental laws are passed – now the real work begins
27 Nov 2025 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 53: Environmental and planning law reforms, industrial chemicals and renewable energy infrastructure
26 Nov 2025 | Article
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COP30 Belém wraps up – Resolving to go faster, slowly at the COP of (hard) truth
26 Nov 2025 | Article
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EPBC reforms: consultation starts on two important Standards
19 Nov 2025 | Article
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COP30 Week One: What Australian businesses need to know
19 Nov 2025 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 52: energy roadmap, rezoning, water flows
28 Oct 2025 | Article
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COP30 in Belém – issues for Australian business
28 Oct 2025 | Article
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Radical reshape of NSW planning laws
8 Oct 2025 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 51: net zero, WA state development, EPBC Act and NSW reforms
30 Sep 2025 | Article
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Australia’s 2035 Climate Commitment: a pragmatic path to net zero?
30 Sep 2025 | Article
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Climate-related transition plan guidance – Treasury's consultation paper sets out recommended best practice
4 Sep 2025 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 50: large greenhouse gas emitters, native title, support package for algal bloom
29 Aug 2025 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 49: climate litigation and strategy, planning changes and general biodiversity duty
30 Jul 2025 | Article
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Media release: Clayton Utz advises New Forests on the sale of a 15,000 hectare timber estate
4 Jun 2025 | Media Release
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"Appropriate, fair and just": understanding compensation for cultural loss in the context of compulsory acquisition
26 Feb 2025 | Article
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COP29: Incremental progress, but all eyes are on 2025 targets
18 Dec 2024 | Article
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For what purpose? Court of Appeal clarifies valuation approach for compulsory acquisitions
18 Dec 2024 | Article
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Quick fix for State significant development? New legislation responds to Court of Appeal case on enabling infrastructure
5 Dec 2024 | Article
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Assessing market value in compulsory acquisition: NSW Court of Appeal further clarifies the statutory disregard
19 Aug 2024 | Article
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New Federal EPA and Information Authority: with major changes imminent, here's what you need to know
4 Jun 2024 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 48: renewable energy and targets, social and affordable housing
2 May 2024 | Article
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Landmark decision confirms proper characterisation of public purpose of compulsory acquisitions in Western Sydney Aerotropolis
23 Apr 2024 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 47: asbestos, renewable energy, sea bed mining, environmental penalties
20 Mar 2024 | Article
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The statutory disregard, stamp duty and just compensation: the NSW Court of Appeal clarifies
20 Mar 2024 | Article
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Biggest boost to NSW Environmental Regulation since 1991
20 Mar 2024 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 46: single-use plastic bans, biodiversity, biodiscovery, petroleum and greenhouse gas
5 Feb 2024 | Article
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Draft legislation released for mandatory climate reporting framework
23 Jan 2024 | Article
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All in or nothing: Half a development application isn't enough in NSW for it to be "made"
20 Dec 2023 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 45: GHGs in health system, sea dumping, agritourism
20 Dec 2023 | Article
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COP28: The art of compromise in the UAE Consensus
19 Dec 2023 | Article
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New Climate Change Act in NSW to accelerate climate change mitigation and adaptation
1 Dec 2023 | Article
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COP28: What we can expect at Dubai
28 Nov 2023 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 44: national sustainable finance strategy, petroleum and geothermal decommissioning
24 Nov 2023 | Article
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Replumbing financial markets for a sustainable future: the Government's Sustainable Finance Strategy Consultation Paper
17 Nov 2023 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 43: carbon leakage, Future Gas Strategy, logging, planning
18 Oct 2023 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 42: circular economy, mining, sustainability and marine dredging
20 Sep 2023 | Article
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What are the Commissioner's powers in the Land and Environment Court's conciliation process?
7 Sep 2023 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 41: sea dumping, climate change, wind farms, housing affordability
25 Aug 2023 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 40: carbon credits, critical minerals, offsets
27 Jul 2023 | Article
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Australia and Germany: Closer than ever following work on our strategic alliance
19 Jul 2023 | Article
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Key takeaways from the Bonn climate conference
7 Jul 2023 | Article
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Mandatory climate reporting – second consultation period underway to shape the final regime
7 Jul 2023 | Article
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New global Sustainability and Climate-related Disclosure Standards: how they will affect Australian businesses
7 Jul 2023 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 39: offshore greenhouse gas storage, packaging and waste, decarbonising
30 Jun 2023 | Article
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The final pieces in Australia’s Emissions Safeguard Mechanism reforms
31 May 2023 | Article
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Environment and Sustainable Development 5 Minute Fix 38: emissions targets, renewables, fracking, water, koalas
24 May 2023 | Article
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Pre-acquisition negotiations with minor interests: some good news from the Land and Environment Court
18 May 2023 | Article
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Mandatory climate-related financial disclosure: current developments in Australia, the UK and EU
1 May 2023 | Video
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