ABOUT ANTON

Anton Dunhill leads the Hunt & Hunt Property Disputes and Compulsory Acquisitions team in Victoria.

As a recognised leader in his field, Anton devotes time to educate lawyers and people affected by compulsory acquisitions. He has been invited to give seminars by the Law Institute of Victoria, clients and to large groups at various town hall meetings. He is frequently quoted in the media and references can be found http://www.hunthunt.com.au/our-people/partner/anton-dunhill.

Anton has many years of experience in compulsory acquisition, handling hundreds of matters in which he provides advice and represents owners, tenants and businesses ranging from small personal landholdings and tenancies to large businesses including Boral and Westfield.

Anton assesses the likely impacts of the acquisition through a balanced and thorough analysis of the claim to ensure less obvious parts of the claim are considered. As legislation entitles claimants to necessary legal and expert advice, Anton provides personalised attention for all claimants from small easements up to large scale acquisitions. Even if an offer seems fair, it is important to have a precise understanding of the legal and practical issues to protect claimants now and in the future, before any documents are signed.

As Anton is often involved when a project is first proposed, he is well placed to assist with related planning issues. This work is often followed by the application of the Public Acquisition Overlay (and any compensation claim which may arise), and culminates in the formal acquisition by the Acquiring Authority. Ultimately, his matters are usually resolved through settlement but, where appropriate, it can be necessary to protect claimant rights in proceedings at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Supreme Court of Victoria. He has also worked on federal land acquisition matters (such as Melbourne airport) in addition to cases in New South Wales and Tasmania.

Anton ensures that claimants are well informed throughout the process and, together with his team, manages the entire process, obtaining all necessary expert valuation, planning, tax, business, agribusiness and other advice relevant to the case. While he is often asked to handle all of the work, claimants are welcome to involve themselves as much as they wish given it is their case and their interest that has been affected.

Advising on and acting in relation to prospective and actual compulsory acquisitions for various large and small scale infrastructure projects. Projects in which he has been, or is still, involved include:

• Local councils such as Banyule, Bass Coast, Brimbank, Casey, Frankston, Geelong, Greater Shepparton, Melton, Surf Coast, Wellington, Yarriambiack
• Road projects (including VicRoads) such as: the Craigieburn By-pass, Dingley By-Pass, Eastlink, East-West Link, Geelong By-Pass, Hallam Road By-Pass, Horsham By-Pass, Koo Wee Rup Bypass, Outer Metropolitan Ring Road, each stage of the Western Highway Project, Yan Yean Road duplication and numerous other road widening projects
• Water corporations including Barwon Region, Coliban Region, Gippsland, Goulburn Valley Region, Lower Murray Urban and Rural, South East Western Region, Yarra Valley
• Department of Transport Planning and Local Infrastructure (previously the Department of Transport, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, and others) including the Desalination Plant at Wonthaggi, the Desalination pipeline, a bus depot at a Westfield Shopping centre, Regional Rail Link Stage 1, Regional Rail Link Stage 2, and negotiated acquisitions including a number of specialised businesses such as chicken farms
• Various Regional Rail Link alliance projects concerned with Regional Rail Link, underpasses and overpasses, and the further development of infrastructure
• Electrical Transmission Lines created for SP AusNet and United Energy Distribution
• Grasslands Overlays including the Werribee Districts
• Places Victoria (previously the Urban Renewal Authority) including the Dandenong Revitalisation
• Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources (Tas)
• Public acquisition overlay claims including loss on sale claims and planning permit application refusals
• Melbourne Airport land acquisitions

• Advising in relation to wind farm agreements and related acquisitions
• Advising Boral in relation to complex landfill and environmental disputes and compulsory acquisition matters
• Advising a large waste management company in dispute with multiple councils and the Environment Protection Authority concerning the construction, management and general operation of waste management facilities
• Advising a member of the State Parliament of Victoria in relation to a Freedom of Information Claim seeking files from government departments
• Representing unChain St Kilda (a not for profit organisation) in relation to its objections to the proposed St Kilda Triangle Development Plan and the planning approval including VCAT proceedings involving issues of invalid approval, denial of natural justice, unreasonableness and acting ultra vires
• Guardianship and Administration matters including acting for residential care facilities to protect the residents’ best interests and obtaining outstanding fees and bonds withheld by family members
• Advising in complex estate disputes, such as a dispute involving a 20 year old will requiring a will rectification proceeding, a proceeding to remove executors, an appeal of the will rectification, proceeding, constructive and resulting trust proceedings, Part IV (Testator’s Family Maintenance) Proceedings and negligence proceeding.