Wayne Moffitt

Wayne Moffitt is a Brisbane-based ecologist and environmental planner holding a Bachelor of Science (AES) degree from Griffith University. As of 2025, Wayne has 32 years of consulting experience and 23 years providing expert evidence on environmental planning matters in Queensland and NSW.  

Wayne commenced practice with James Warren and Associates in NSW, where he worked on a range of residential, quarrying, and prominent coastal development projects (‘Salt’, Casuarina Beach, Kings Forest, and Cobaki Lakes). In 1997, Wayne returned to Brisbane, where he continued to work on a similar suite of projects with AGC Woodward Clyde and Belt Collins.

In 2001, Wayne became a founding director of PLACE Planning and Design (later PLACE Design Group), where he established the environmental management team and began providing expert evidence to the Queensland Planning and Environment Court, the Queensland Land Court, and the NSW Land and Environment Court.

In 2010, Wayne was seconded to the Department of Transport and Main Roads to deliver a Road Corridor Environmental Assessment for the Metropolitan Region. With SMEC, he later delivered a similar study for the state’s remaining DTMR districts, a logistically challenging (Queensland-wide) study, which was completed in nine months.

In 2012, Wayne joined the resources advisory firm AMEC, where he coordinated ecological assessments and environmental management plans for a range of mining projects and associated infrastructure (rail and power). Concurrently, he founded 28 South Environmental, and by 2013, was running this predominantly urban advisory firm full-time.

Since 2013, 28 South has grown to a permanent staff of 24. It has expanded from its urban development roots to now also advise on major infrastructure projects for private and public sector entities (we are assisting with several emerging Olympic projects). More generally, our team advises state and local governments through professional services panels. In recent years, the strengthening of the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 has seen 28 South undertake significant work in this challenging space, and this is now a core area of the business.

Wayne is involved in many of the 28 South projects, particularly those in sensitive settings or with complex approval pathways. A significant component of Wayne’s work is advising on (and reshaping) projects that are on a trajectory towards refusal. This real-world experience outside of the appeal space provides a useful perspective within the appeal space.

Wayne continues to provide expert evidence to the various Queensland courts. In this regard, Wayne has represented appellants and regulators in over 100 legal matters involving urban development, quarrying, landfill and resource recovery, tourism, agriculture, resumptions and disputes regarding unlawful clearing. He is very familiar with the rigours of expert witness work, the requirements for a pragmatic and congenial approach to dispute resolution, and the need to provide clients with clear and frank advice on their position in legal proceedings.

Explore Wayne’s Work by Sector

Agriculture | Urban | Tourism/Recreation | Infrastructure/Quarry/Resources/Landfill | LandCourt | NSW