Peer Review and Expert Witness

THE PROBLEM

Often government and private sector clients require an independent assessment of models and/or technical reports prior to accepting or implementing the recommendations.  Works undertaken on recommendations based on flawed technical work can be extremely costly and wasteful when the works may not have been required. Additionally, under estimations of flood risk can put people and assets at risk.

Planning hearings or appeals and litigation will normally require the preparation of an expert witness statement.

THE SOLUTION

Drawing on our extensive specialist experience in flooding and stormwater matters, Venant Solutions provides third party peer and model review services to private and government clients.  Venant Solutions provides an independent peer and model review service.  A thorough review of all inputs and outputs is undertaken to ensure that industry best practices have been adopted.  Through this process, Venant Solutions provides clients with the confidence that the third party delivered product is fit-for-purpose. We will also communicate in practical terms any defects or deficiencies and how these may impact the serviceability of the product.

Our level of involvement is tailored to suit the particular requirements of the project. These roles can range from hydrologic and hydraulic model reviews, peer reviewers, and fully independent assessments, through to technical advisers for government agencies.

Our team regularly prepares expert witness statements for both government and private sector clients.  Venant Solutions has prepared expert witness statements for VCAT and Planning Panels in Victoria, the Planning and Environment Court in Queensland, and the Land and Environment Court in NSW.

SPECIALIST SERVICES OFFERED
  • Legal and expert witness statements
  • Review of existing hydrologic and hydraulic models
  • Development and calibration of hydrologic and hydraulic models to support expert statements
  • Stormwater quality and quantity assessments to support expert statements

 

VENANT SOLUTIONS SAMPLE PROJECTS
  • Subject Matter Expert for the Inland Rail Project – Victorian and some NSW packages
  • Technical Advisor to the City of Greater Geelong for the Northern and Western Geelong Growth Area Precinct Structure Plans
  • Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Management Strategy – Member of the Gateway Peer Review Panel established by NSW Treasury
  • Parliamentary Inquiry into Flood Mitigation Infrastructure in Victoria – Technical Advisor
  • Peer Review Panel for the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
  • Brisbane River Pedestrian Riverwalk Peer Review
  • Brisbane Airport Link and Busways over Breakfast Creek Peer Review
  • Technical Advisor to the Department of State Development & Major Infrastructure Projects for the Queens Wharf Brisbane Project
  • Peer Reviewer for Arup on the Indooroopilly Bikeway project
  • Peer reviewer for City of Greater Geelong on numerous flood studies and land development applications
  • Flemington Racecourse Flood Wall, Peer Review
  • Salacia Waters Marina Development, Gold Coast, Peer Review
  • Florina Gardens Development, Gold Coast
  • Implementation of Special Building Overlay into planning scheme, City of Greater Geelong
  • Mark Jempson has prepared many expert witness statements for land development projects and litigation matters including but not limited to:
    • Mollers Lane at Leopold, Vic
    • 85 Schotters Rd Mernda, Vic
    • Solar Farms at Naring and Bookar, Vic
    • Mancave Units, Moorabin, Vic
    • Windermere Road, Lara
    • Grand Lakes Development at Lara, VIC
    • Caddys Road Rezoning at Lara, VIC
    • Manzeene Ave Development at Lara, VIC
    • Barwon Heads Road Development, VIC
    • Ibbotson St Development, St Leonards, VIC
    • Mills Crescent Development at Port Fairy, VIC