Kirsten Sugden
Biography
Overview
Kirsten is an environment and planning Associate in the Energy, Infrastructure, Projects and Asset Finance practice group. She assists clients in respect of ESG and sustainability-related issues as well as working with private and government clients to develop and finance major projects across the energy, infrastructure and resources sectors.
Kirsten has assisted in securing key State and Commonwealth environmental, planning and regulatory approvals for solar, wind, mining, rail, carbon capture and storage, and large electricity infrastructure projects. She also assists clients in conducting environmental due diligence, securing land rights and provides strategic advice on complex environmental and planning approvals including for offshore projects within both State and Commonwealth waters.
Kirsten has also prepared cases to be heard in the Supreme Court, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, before Planning Panels Victoria and in the South Australian Environment Resources and Development Court.
Experience
Advising the Victorian government in respect of the Suburban Rail Loop on the environmental assessment, approvals and land assembly strategy for this massive orbital rail and precinct development program of projects in Melbourne.
Advising on the environmental, approvals and land assembly for the Star of the South offshore wind farm project in southern Australia.
Advised the Victorian government on land assembly and environmental approval strategy for the proposed CarbonNet carbon capture storage ("CCS") project in Bass Strait, and on the operation and effect of Australian CCS legislation.
Advised ESCO Pacific on the development, equity sale and $A250 million project financing of the Finley Solar Farm, a 175 MW facility. Finley Solar Farm is supported by the largest corporate solar offtake agreement in Australia, a seven-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Bluescope.
Advised Nexif Energy on the development and financing of the Lincoln Gap Wind Farm in South Australia. The Lincoln Gap Wind Energy Generation & Storage Project will, when complete, include 59 turbines and a 10MWhr battery storage system and be capable of generating 212 MW, producing enough energy to power 155,000 households in South Australia. Kirsten advised in relation to the development and environmental consents, land agreements, native title and heritage issues.
Represented Pacific Hydro in relation to its $A130 million Yaloak South Wind Farm before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to successfully secure more efficient post-construction environmental monitoring obligations.
Represented RES Australia in relation to its $330 million Twin Creek Wind Farm in South Australia to secure favourable development assessment categorisation.
Advised on projects for Neoen, Acciona, Plenary Group and FRV in relation to the development, and acquisition of various renewable energy facilities, including providing advice on environmental, heritage and native title issues.
Advising a leading global technology services company on environmental audit processes and regulatory requirements for the use and transportation of hazardous materials.
Advising on requirements to construct and operate large scale electricity transmission assets in various Australian States and strategies for obtaining land access, planning approvals and consents for vegetation removal.
