City Plan has extended its range of services to include independent mediation and conciliation.

Our Heritage Director, Kerime Danis, has recently become an NMAS Mediator, accredited with the Mediation Institute to aid in her Expert Witness services in the NSW Land & Environment Court proceedings. Kerime has established considerable skills in the ability to act as a mediator in assisting two or more participants to manage, settle or resolve disputes or to form a future plan of action through a process of mediation, or conciliation in respect of Heritage Planning and Property issues.

How can a mediator help?

The role of a Mediator/Conciliator is to remain independent to the issues at hand, and guide the parties through issues with the aim of reaching a mutually beneficial outcome. Kerime’s extensive heritage planning and conservation knowledge allow her the ability to quickly grasp the issues at hand. In this respect she is able to help the parties to:

  • Identify, clarify and seek understanding of each party’s underlying needs and issues in dispute,
  • Develop alternatives,
  • Generate and evaluate options,
  • Negotiate options, and
  • Assist parties to work toward reaching a practical and mutually-satisfying outcome, and making a decision(s) .

The advantage of this service is that it relieves existing stretched staff resources. Mediation has the ability to reduce costs as it eliminates the need to outsource the running of a s34 conference or appeal hearing if prior agreements of both parties can be achieved. The savings to budget in staff and dollars can be significant. With the aim of parties discussing and resolving issues, mediation services can be used at any time during the Development Application or Planning Proposal assessment period. Once an application is within the Land & Environment Court System, our services can be invaluable to get the parties talking, with the view to agree to an outcome prior to full hearing.

Should you wish to discuss this service further, or obtain a fee quotation, please do not hesitate to contact Kerime Danis on kerimed@cityplan.com.au