Stephen O’Connor

Biography

Steve O’Connor is a Technical Director based in our Newcastle office. He has been responsible for undertaking a wide range of major planning studies and environmental assessments since he first entered the workforce in 1974 and has worked as a professional planner and environmental manager at senior levels in both the public and private sectors.

He has been the principal in charge of assessments for major infrastructure projects including the provision of water pipelines, railway lines, electricity transmission lines, sewerage schemes including grey water reticulation, gas pipelines, airport upgrades and major arterial roads. He has also been in charge of assessments and ongoing monitoring associated with significant new developments in the fields of mining, extractive industries, chemical industries, construction, commercial, retail, tourism, industrial and residential estates, recreational infrastructure and waste management projects.

Steve was appointed as a member of the NSW Natural Resource Advisory Council by the NSW Minister for the Environment in 2010. He was appointed as a member of the NSW Independent Planning Commission by the NSW Minister for Planning in 2015. In 2021 Steve was accredited to review and sign off on Environmental Impact Statements under the NSW Department of Planning and Environment registration system.

Steve is a Registered Planner, a Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), was a Director of PIA for 7 years. During his time on the National Board of Directors for PIA he was the National Vice President from 2014 to 2018 and the National President from 2018 to 2020.

He has participated as an Expert in the NSW Land and Environment Court and the NSW Supreme Court in relation to over sixty appeals/ disputes/ mediations.

Steve is the Chair of both Parramatta City Council’s Local Planning Panel. He is also an Alternative Chair for Ryde City Council’s Local Planning Panel. In this capacity he is involved in determining complex and controversial development application in these two local government areas.

During his term as the National President of PIA, Steve represented the planning profession in Australia at the national and international level