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[2024] NSWLEC 1103
Land and Environment Court (NSW)
2023-10-25
Original judgment source is linked above.
presentation: Counsel: B Jee (Agent) (Applicant) N Maddocks (First and Second Respondents)
Solicitors: Foteades Freeman Cohen (Respondent) File Number(s): 2023/246672 Publication restriction: Nil
Background
Framework for this decision
Reasonable effort to reach agreement
The trees
Whether the pear trees have damaged the applicant's property
Whether the bamboo has damaged the applicant's property
Consideration of s 12 matters
Whether tree removal is required
Replacement of the boundary fence
Apportionment of costs of the works
Orders
DISCLAIMER - Every effort has been made to comply with suppression orders or statutory provisions prohibiting publication that may apply to this judgment or decision. The onus remains on any person using material in the judgment or decision to ensure that the intended use of that material does not breach any such order or provision. Further enquiries may be directed to the Registry of the Court or Tribunal in which it was generated. Decision last updated: 11 March 2024
Whether the pear trees have damaged the applicant's property
"The existing common brick boundary wall, (age and heritage unknown) does have some sections that are leaning and are required to be removed and replaced. Consideration of damage from the planted Manchurian pears were considered, with a section of wall separating as per figure 8.
It is inconclusive that this fencing movement is attributed from the site trees, there are other sections of the wall that have Manchurian Pears being in the same age, height, and condition, with no movement or cracking of the boundary wall being evident."
Whether the bamboo has damaged the applicant's property
"dividing fence means a fence separating the land of adjoining owners, whether on the common boundary of adjoining lands or on a line other than the common boundary."
(1) The application to remove the bamboo is granted in part, as per orders below.
(2) The application to remove other trees is refused.
(3) The application to replace the dividing fence is granted.
(4) The application for the cost of fencing works to be borne by the respondent is refused.
(5) Within 30 days of the date of these orders, the respondents, or a suitably qualified, experienced, and insured arborist or landscape contractor engaged and paid by the respondents, are to:
(a) remove the ghost bamboo (B1); and
(b) remove all of the slender weaver's bamboo (B2) within 50 cm (at ground level) of their eastern boundary and prune to a height of 4 metres all remaining slender weaver's bamboo (B2) within 2 metres of their eastern boundary.
(6) The works in Order (5) are to be done in accordance with the Safe Work Australia (2016) 'Guide to managing risks of tree trimming and removal work'.
(7) The respondents are to take all reasonable measures to prevent the ghost bamboo (B1) regrowing and to prevent the slender weaver's bamboo (B2) regrowing within 50 cm (at ground level) of their eastern boundary.
(8) Within 30 days of the date of these orders, the applicant and the respondents are each to obtain and swap with each other at least one but up to two quotes from fencing contractors to demolish the brick wall on or adjacent to the boundary, from its northern end to where it meets the paling fence at the south, and replace it with a capped, lightweight fence similar to those shown on pp 23 and 34 of the Freeman report (in Exhibit 1) ('the fencing works').
(9) Within 90 days of the date of these orders, the applicant is to engage the fencing contractor from the cheapest quote obtained from Order (8), or from another of the quotes if agreed to by the parties, to carry out the fencing works, with the 30% of the cost paid by the applicant and 70% of the cost paid by the respondents.
(10) The applicants are to give the respondent 1 week's notice of the works in Order (9).
(11) The applicant and the respondents are each to provide all access necessary for the quoting and carrying out of all works in the preceding orders.
(12) The exhibits are returned, other than Exhibit A.
Lee
Elford