Don?s move into local government saw him specialising in town planning and general local government matters involving statutory powers and council meetings.

He acted for the State of Victoria creating and progressing the State policy for reducing old and inappropriate subdivisions.

He was also engaged by about 10 local councils to work on their local inappropriate subdivision plans and completed some compulsory acquisition programs.
As the Solicitor for the Shire of Gisborne he was engaged to conduct council & town planning advice and local government prosecutions.

He published articles about town planning legislation in the Law Institute Journal and was a member of the Law Institute Local Government/ Town Planning Committee.



He handled fire claims against the then SEC arising out of the Ash Wednesday Bushfire disaster to the Macedon district.

As his experience grew he was appointed onto the Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Victoria as a legal member in town planning for six years and was responsible in that statutory office for making judicial decisions as chairman of tribunals.
In addition to his professional role he developed a public role as the chairman of the National Trust of Victoria W Class Tramway Committee whose task it was to negotiate with the Victorian Government and the Department of Transport for a continuing role for W class historic trams.
He was also the chairman appointed by the Minister of Transport to head an inquiry to investigate operating and capital cost comparisons between W class and Z class trams to advise on plans to retain a W class fleet.

For the tourist railway industry he undertook to negotiate and assist the Department of Transport in the development of the legislation that became the Tourist Railways Act 1982 which and subsequently part of the Transport Act 1983.

In 1993 he was a member of a team to successfully tender for the Warrnambool Heavy Rail franchise with the Victorian Government. He was CEO and chairman of the operating corporate entity.

He was involved in the Victorian rail safety legislation discussion group and implemented a full Rail Safety plan for heavy rail services in Victoria, South Australia and New Zealand for the rail operating companies.

As part of the successful tender team for the New Zealand long distance passenger services in both the North and South Island he became CEO and Chairman of the operating corporate entity.
As legal counsel for both rail companies he was entrusted with the corporate governance plus safety/OH&S and collective bargaining.

Don has chambers located in central Geelong that provide a convenient location for conferences with practitioners and clients in the Geelong, Bellarine and South West Victoria area.