John May Email & Phone Number

Speers Point

I provide first port of call town planning advice for all town planning issues at LMCC Customer Experience Centre at Boolaroo. Having survived Covid-19 I can proudly say we went the extra mile to help other business owners and consultants pull through a pandemic that created much business uncertainty. Like many I often worked long hours outside my normal time so when you needed to know what options you had, you knew Council was with you all the way to prevent staff layoffs. I am now working full time back in the main Admin building. My job is to assist customers from mums and dads to experienced developers, understand the plethora of town planning legislation so they can progress their dreams. After 15 years in the job I have seen and interpreted a wide variety of legislation from its creation, and amendments. I have spoken to most developers, real estate agents, solicitors and private consultant within the Hunter Region, and enjoy assisting this diverse range of professions. While we allow development and subdivision, Council also protects, and my hat goes off to all compliance officers as they deal with the pointy end of the legislation in particular. Having worked as a DCO in Sydney for ten years, I can honestly say it was the toughest job I ever had, winning all 18 court cases in Local and L&E Courts was highly rewarding, especially when being cross examined by a Barister on my planning knowledge. Thanks to highly professional hierarchy of staff at LMCC, I can get assistance from other experts within this Council in a timely manner that shows a high co-operation amongst team members. The whole aim is to give the customer the right advice so that development can occur correctly.

Forster, New South Wales, Australia

I assessed a variety of development applications in a coastal/rural/urban environment that covered areas such as Karuah; Stroud, Hawkes Nest/Tea Gardens; Nabiac, and Forster/ Tuncurry. Assessment involved consultation with a team of local government specialists to State Government level. I encountered many bio-divesity issues, and learnt a great deal from Council's Ecologist Matt Bell in protecting the environment from future development.DA's that I assessed include subdivisions, industrial, commercial, child care centres, dual occupancy, home business, shops, medical centres, cafes, heritage items, agriculture, advertising etc. I successfully defended Council in two legal proceedings at the Land & Environment Court and at an onsite hearing, providing evidence of my assessment and being cross examined. My previous employment at several Sydney Council's as a Development Control Officer was also noteworthy having lost none of my 18 court cases including being a part of Baulkham Hills Shire Council 100% court case wins in 1998. This included the closure of a major sand mine for not complying with conditions of consent. My Mentor at Fairfield City Council Senior Investigator Ken Collins, instilled in me the confidence to pursue a Local Government career for the betterment of others.

Masters Of Planning, Town Planning

Thesis on Hi-tech industry location requirements

Bachelor Of Business Administration - Bba, Land Economy

Real estate valuation

Land Economy - Valuation, Bachelor Of Business - Land Economy

Dissertation on Developer Contribution & differences between LGA's