Know The Landholder
Updated: 4 days ago
Understanding the person behind the property
“Every project will leave a legacy. The question is, what kind of legacy will it leave?”
I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with hundreds of landholders over the years, across all kinds of projects and in communities right across Australia.
I’ve been to all kinds of properties and met all kinds of people, and every landholder is different. They have their own priorities, experiences and their own views on the project in front of them.
That’s probably one of the biggest things I’ve learnt over the years. If you take the time to get to know the landholder from the beginning, you give the project a much better chance of building a good relationship and leaving the right kind of legacy.
Start by Listening
Some of the most useful conversations happen before you get too far into the detail of access, compensation or construction.
Give the landholder the opportunity to explain their property, their operation and what you need to know about it. You’ll often learn things that simply aren’t obvious from the information you have in front of you.
I’ve always found it valuable to stand over a map together. It changes the conversation because the landholder starts showing you how their property actually works, what needs to be considered and the things a project team may never have thought to ask.
That understanding can shape the way you approach the project and often helps identify practical solutions early.
Understand the Operation
One thing I’ve learnt is that you need to understand the whole operation, not just the part of the property your project is dealing with.
I remember working with a landholder where the area we needed access to was only a small piece of a much larger operation.
On a map, the impact could have looked relatively minor. Once you understood how that particular piece of land fitted into the broader operation, though, the impact was significant.
That’s the sort of detail you only understand by spending time with the landholder and asking the right questions:
How do they use that part of the property?
What happens at different times of the year?
How does it connect with the rest of the operation?
Understanding that bigger picture can completely change the way you approach access and the conversations you have with the landholder.
Experience Backed by Industry
Over the years, I've seen the value of taking the time to understand people before making decisions. It's encouraging to see that approach increasingly reflected across Australia.
Coexistence Queensland continues to promote productive relationships between landholders and project proponents, recognising that better engagement supports better project outcomes.
The Queensland Government Land Access Code also reflects the importance of how relationships with landholders are approached, particularly through the emphasis it places on communication and negotiation.
For those of us working in land access, these aren't new ideas. They're principles that many practitioners have learnt through experience over many years.
Our Approach
These lessons continue to shape the way we approach land access at Costello Group today.
We've learnt that respect isn't assumed, it's earned. It comes from listening, being consistent and following through on what you've said you'll do. Over time, that's how strong working relationships are built.
Every landholder is different, and every project brings its own challenges. Taking the time to understand the person before the property creates better conversations, better decisions and better outcomes for everyone involved.
In my experience, that's where better land access begins.
Further Information
If you'd like to explore this topic further, these Australian resources provide practical guidance on land access, community engagement and coexistence.
1. Coexistence Queensland – Landholder information and resources
Independent information and practical guidance for landholders navigating land access, engagement and project development across Queensland’s resources and energy sectors.
2. Queensland Government – Land Access Code
Guidance for Queensland’s resources sector, including best-practice principles for communication, negotiation and engagement between resource companies and landholders.
Peter Costello - Managing Director, Costello Group
