Environmental Defenders Office of Northern Queensland

Advice and Casework

Independent and free legal advice from EDO-NQ is available to any person or group seeking to use the law to protect the environment in the public interest. A public interest case is one that has significance beyond the material or financial interests of a particular individual or group, and that which has some broader ‘public good’ or ‘public interest’ component to it, or raises a matter of substantial public concern.

For example, a pollution case that is causing harm to an area that is the habitat for an endangered animal clearly involves public interest issues. Conversely, development issues that relate to loss of residential amenity and devaluations of property to neighbours would not be considered as public interest issues.

Legal Advice

If you would like legal advice from the EDONQ then please contact us. Advice may be provided over the phone, or through an appointment.

EDONQ can provide legal advice:

in person;
over the telephone;
by mail or
by email.

Casework

Clients seeking legal representation to conduct Court work will be asked to complete a Legal Assistance Request Form doc Request Legal Assistance Form 96.00 Kb (PDF pdf Request Legal Assistance Form 34.79 Kb). The decision as to whether such assistance can be provided is made by the EDONQ Casework Subcommittee. EDONQ has developed a set out Casework Guidelines which outlines matters which are taken into account when considering requests for ongoing legal assistance (e.g. casework and litigation representation).

Yorkeys Knob Case

In 2005, the ED0-NQ successful represented the Yorkeys Knob Residents Association in an appeal against a coastal development in their suburb.

Small Cairns seaside village keeps wildlife habitat thanks to the EDO

In late 2004 the Yorkeys Knob Residents Association lodged an appeal against the Cairns City Council approval of an enormous development on a parcel of land that was designated as a constrained development site, and previously had endangered remnant vegetation status. The site was a significant local wildlife habitat, contained a wetland and formed part of a wildlife corridor in Yorkeys Knob. We approached the Environmental Defenders Office for legal assistance with the appeal and after due consideration Kirsty Ruddock of the Cairns office was given approval to represent us in court and run the case. Kirsty worked tirelessly and with consummate skill in conjunction with our small association to present an incredibly thorough and convincing case the outcome was outstanding

WE WON.

The developer and Cairns City Council went to great expense and were represented by Barristers / Solicitors each. We had only Kirsty a limited budget and a team of very dedicated volunteers from the Residents Association and The EDO.

The residents of Yorkeys Knob thank Kirsty Ruddock and the EDO every day as we continue to enjoy the wildlife and magnificent Melaleucas that now remain on the site and that provide a habitat for a huge array of native flora and fauna species.

More information about EDO-NQ’s casework can be found in our regular bulletins and alerts.