About FPE
Coastal projects deserve a clear path to approval.
Sam started FPE because too many good projects were getting tangled in an approvals system that rewards those who know it well — and penalises those who don't. We exist to level that playing field.
Meet Sam Cook
Director & Principal Planner
Foreshore Planning & Environmental
Most coastal approvals consultants come from either ecology or planning. Sam has both — and 15 years working inside Queensland's regulatory framework makes the difference when a project is under pressure.
Sam founded FPE to bring together two disciplines that too often operate in silos. His background spans hands-on coastal fieldwork — marine plant surveys, habitat assessments, foreshore monitoring — and the planning side of the approvals system: SDAP responses, SARA submissions, regulator negotiations, and permit conditions. That combination means he understands how assessment officers think, because he's worked alongside them.
Every FPE project is led directly by Sam. No juniors interpreting instructions, no handoffs mid-submission. Clients get the expertise they engaged — applied to their project from first brief to final approval.
Marine Biology (Hons)
Bachelor of Science with Honours
Environmental Planning
Postgraduate Diploma
15+ Years in QLD
Coastal & marine regulatory framework
10+ Years Field Experience
Coastal and marine environments
Who we work with
Built for the people who deliver coastal projects
Local & regional governments
Foreshore assets, community infrastructure, compliance monitoring.
Developers
Property and infrastructure projects in coastal and marine settings.
Coastal contractors
Marine structures, dredging, erosion control, and waterway works.
Private landholders
Foreshore assets, pontoons, jetties, and riparian works.
How we work
Early clarity. Defensible outcomes.
We focus on identifying statutory triggers and real constraints early — designing mitigation that is realistic and conditionable, and preparing clear, regulator-ready documentation.
01
Clarify pathways
Identify statutory triggers and approval requirements before design is locked in.
02
Identify real constraints
Not theoretical ones — practical constraints that will actually affect your project.
03
Design practical mitigation
Mitigation that works on paper and on the ground, aligned with legislation and site realities.
04
Regulator-ready documentation
Clear, concise submissions that support efficient assessment decisions.
Our credentials
Infrastructure-aware. Environment-focused.
We specialise in projects where environmental sensitivity and infrastructure requirements intersect — tidal works, foreshore access, erosion control, marine structures, and works in waterways.
- — Coastal approvals: tidal works, coastal management district, marine parks, EPBC
- — Environmental surveys: marine plants, fauna, habitat assessments
- — Monitoring: baseline, construction, and post-construction compliance
- — Advisory: feasibility, stakeholder engagement, CEMP inputs
Ready to map your approvals pathway?
We'll identify the triggers, risks, and pathway forward — within 5 business days.