An Act to provide for proceedings in the Land and Environment Court for the resolution of disputes between neighbours concerning trees; and for other purposes.
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.
3 Definitions
(1) In this Act:council has the same meaning as it has in the Local Government Act 1993.Crown land has the same meaning as it has in the Crown Land Management Act 2016.interfere with a tree includes cut down, fell, remove, kill, destroy, poison, ringbark, uproot or burn a tree or any part of a tree (including its roots).owner of land includes the occupier of the land.the Court means the Land and Environment Court.tree includes any woody perennial plant, any plant resembling a tree in form and size, and any other plant prescribed by the regulations.window includes a glass sliding door, a door with a window, a skylight and any other similar thing.(1A) For the purposes of this Act:(a) a reference to land within a zone designated “rural-residential” includes a reference to land within a “large lot residential” land use zone, and(b) a reference to land within a particular designated zone includes a reference to land within any zone prescribed by the regulations as a zone equivalent to that particular designated zone but does not include a reference to land within any zone prescribed by the regulations as a zone that is not equivalent to that particular designated zone.(2) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act.s 3: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [1] [2]; 2017 No 17, Sch 4.99.
4 Act applies to trees on certain land
(1) This Act applies only to trees situated on the following land:(a) any land within a zone designated “residential”, “rural-residential”, “village”, “township”, “industrial” or “business” under an environmental planning instrument (within the meaning of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979) or, having regard to the purpose of the zone, having the substantial character of a zone so designated,(b) any land of a kind prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.(2) This Act does not apply to trees situated on:(a) any land that is vested in, or managed by, a council, or(b) any land of a kind prescribed by the regulations.(3) For the purposes of this Act, a tree is situated on land if the tree is situated wholly or principally on the land.(4) Without limiting subsection (3), a tree that is removed following damage or injury that gave rise to an application under Part 2 is still taken to be situated on land for the purposes of the application if the tree was situated wholly or principally on the land immediately before the damage or injury occurred.s 4: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [3] [4].
5 Action in nuisance
No action may be brought in nuisance as a result of damage caused by a tree to which Part 2 applies or as a result of an obstruction of sunlight to the window of a dwelling, or of a view from a dwelling, caused by trees to which Part 2A applies.s 5: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [5].
6 Authorisation of work or activity regulated by or under other Act
(1) Except as provided by subsection (3), an order under Part 2 or 2A does not authorise or require a person:(a) to carry out any work or engage in any activity for which a consent or other authorisation must be obtained under any other Act without that consent or authorisation, or(b) to carry out any work or engage in any activity that is prohibited by or under any other Act.(2) Except as provided by subsection (3), a person may not apply to the Court for an order under Part 2 or 2A if the carrying out of the work or engagement in the activity concerned is prohibited by or under another Act.(3) An order under Part 2 or 2A has effect despite any requirement that would otherwise apply for a consent or other authorisation in relation to the tree concerned to be obtained under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or the Heritage Act 1977.s 6: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [6].
Part 2 Court orders—trees that cause or are likely to cause damage or injury
pt 2, hdg: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [7].
7 Application to Court by affected land owner
An owner of land may apply to the Court for an order to remedy, restrain or prevent damage to property on the land, or to prevent injury to any person, as a consequence of a tree to which this Act applies that is situated on adjoining land.
8 Notice of application for order to be given to owners of affected land
(1) An applicant for an order under this Part must give at least 21 days notice of the lodging of the application and the terms of any order sought to:(a) the owner of the land on which the tree is situated, and(b) any relevant authority that would, in accordance with section 13, be entitled to appear in proceedings in relation to the tree, and(c) any other person the applicant has reason to believe will be affected by the order.(2) The Court may direct that notice of an application be given to a person or that notice be given in a specified manner or within a specified period.(3) The Court may waive the requirement to give notice or vary the period of notice under this section if it thinks it appropriate to do so in the circumstances.
9 Jurisdiction to make orders
(1) The Court may make such orders as it thinks fit to remedy, restrain or prevent damage to property, or to prevent injury to any person, as a consequence of the tree the subject of the application concerned.(2) Without limiting the powers of the Court to make orders under subsection (1), an order made under that subsection may:(a) require the taking of specified action to remedy damage to property, or(b) require the taking of specified action to restrain or prevent damage or, if damage has already occurred, further damage, to property, or(c) require the taking of specified action to prevent injury to any person, or(d) require the making of an application to obtain any consent or other authorisation referred to in section 6 (1) (a), or(e) authorise the applicant concerned to take specified action to remedy, restrain or prevent damage or (if damage has already occurred) further damage to property, or(f) authorise the applicant concerned to take specified action to prevent injury to any person, or(g) authorise land to be entered for the purposes of carrying out an order under this section (including for the purposes of obtaining quotations for the carrying out of work on the land), or(h) require the payment of costs associated with carrying out an order under this section, or(i) require the payment of compensation for damage to property, or(j) require the replacement of a tree that the Court orders to be removed and for the new tree to be maintained to a mature growth.
10 Matters of which Court must be satisfied before making an order
(1) The Court must not make an order under this Part unless it is satisfied:(a) that the applicant has made a reasonable effort to reach agreement with the owner of the land on which the tree is situated, and(b) if the requirement to give notice has not been waived, that the applicant has given notice of the application in accordance with section 8.(2) The Court must not make an order under this Part unless it is satisfied that the tree concerned:(a) has caused, is causing, or is likely in the near future to cause, damage to the applicant’s property, or(b) is likely to cause injury to any person.
11 (Repealed)
s 11: Am 2009 No 9, Sch 3.14 [1] [2]; 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [8]; 2013 No 95, Sch 8.19.
12 Matters to be considered by Court
Before determining an application made under this Part, the Court is to consider the following matters:(a) the location of the tree concerned in relation to the boundary of the land on which the tree is situated and any premises,(b) whether interference with the tree would, in the absence of section 6 (3), require any consent or other authorisation under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or the Heritage Act 1977 and, if so, whether any such consent or authorisation has been obtained,(b1) whether interference with the trees would, in the absence of section 25 (t) (Legislative exclusions) of the Native Vegetation Act 2003, require approval under that Act,(b2) the impact any pruning (including the maintenance of the tree at a certain height, width or shape) would have on the tree,(b3) any contribution of the tree to privacy, landscaping, garden design, heritage values or protection from the sun, wind, noise, smells or smoke or the amenity of the land on which it is situated,(c) whether the tree has any historical, cultural, social or scientific value,(d) any contribution of the tree to the local ecosystem and biodiversity,(e) any contribution of the tree to the natural landscape and scenic value of the land on which it is situated or the locality concerned,(f) the intrinsic value of the tree to public amenity,(g) any impact of the tree on soil stability, the water table or other natural features of the land or locality concerned,(h) if the applicant alleges that the tree concerned has caused, is causing, or is likely in the near future to cause, damage to the applicant’s property:(i) anything, other than the tree, that has contributed, or is contributing, to any such damage or likelihood of damage, including any act or omission by the applicant and the impact of any trees owned by the applicant, and(ii) any steps taken by the applicant or the owner of the land on which the tree is situated to prevent or rectify any such damage,(i) if the applicant alleges that the tree concerned is likely to cause injury to any person:(i) anything, other than the tree, that has contributed, or is contributing, to any such likelihood, including any act or omission by the applicant and the impact of any trees owned by the applicant, and(ii) any steps taken by the applicant or the owner of the land on which the tree is situated to prevent any such injury,(j) such other matters as the Court considers relevant in the circumstances of the case.s 12: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [9].
13 Appearance by local council or Heritage Council
A local council or the Heritage Council (a ) may appear before the Court in any proceedings under this Part in relation to a tree if the consent or other authorisation of the relevant authority to interfere with the tree would be required, in the absence of section 6 (3), under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or the Heritage Act 1977.
14 Court to provide copy of order to local council and Heritage Council
The Court must provide a copy of any order it makes under this Part (other than an order dismissing an application) to:(a) the council of the local government area in which the tree is situated, and(b) the Heritage Council if the Heritage Council appeared in the proceedings concerned under section 13.s 14: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [10].
Part 2A Court orders—high hedges that obstruct sunlight or views
pt 2A: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
14A Application of Part
(1) This Part applies only to groups of 2 or more trees that:(a) are planted (whether in the ground or otherwise) so as to form a hedge, and(b) rise to a height of at least 2.5 metres (above existing ground level).(2) Despite section 4, this Part does not apply to trees situated on Crown land.s 14A: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11]. Am 2015 No 2, Sch 4.6.
14B Application to Court by affected land owner
An owner of land may apply to the Court for an order to remedy, restrain or prevent a severe obstruction of:(a) sunlight to a window of a dwelling situated on the land, orif the obstruction occurs as a consequence of trees to which this Part applies being situated on adjoining land.(b) any view from a dwelling situated on the land,ss 14B–14I: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
14C Notice of application for order to be given to owners of affected land
(1) An applicant for an order under this Part must give at least 21 days notice of the lodging of the application and the terms of any order sought to:(a) the owner of the land on which the trees are situated, and(b) any relevant authority that would, in accordance with section 14G, be entitled to appear in proceedings in relation to the trees, and(c) any other person the applicant has reason to believe will be affected by the order.(2) The Court may direct that notice of an application be given to a person or that notice be given in a specified manner or within a specified period.(3) The Court may waive the requirement to give notice or vary the period of notice under this section if it thinks it appropriate to do so in the circumstances.ss 14B–14I: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
14D Jurisdiction to make orders
(1) The Court may make such orders as it thinks fit to remedy, restrain or prevent the severe obstruction of:(a) sunlight to a window of a dwelling situated on the applicant’s land, orif the obstruction occurs as a consequence of trees that are the subject of the application concerned.(b) any view from a dwelling situated on the applicant’s land,(2) Without limiting the powers of the Court to make orders under subsection (1), an order made under that subsection may do any or all of the following:(a) require the taking of specified action to remedy the obstruction of sunlight or of a view,(b) require the taking of specified action to restrain or prevent the obstruction of sunlight or of a view,(c) require the taking of specified action to maintain a tree or trees at a certain height, width or shape,(d) require the removal of a tree or trees and the replacement of the tree or trees with a different species of tree,(e) require the making of an application to obtain any consent or other authorisation referred to in section 6 (1) (a),(f) authorise the applicant concerned to take specified action to remedy, restrain or prevent the obstruction of sunlight or of a view,(g) authorise land to be entered for the purposes of carrying out an order under this section (including for the purposes of obtaining quotations for the carrying out of work on the land),(h) require the payment of costs associated with carrying out an order under this section.(3) However, the power to make an order under subsection (1) does not extend to an order that requires the payment of compensation.ss 14B–14I: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
14E Matters of which Court must be satisfied before making an order
(1) The Court must not make an order under this Part unless it is satisfied:(a) that the applicant has made a reasonable effort to reach agreement with the owner of the land on which the trees are situated, and(b) if the requirement to give notice has not been waived, that the applicant has given notice of the application in accordance with section 14C.(2) The Court must not make an order under this Part unless it is satisfied that:(a) the trees concerned:(i) are severely obstructing sunlight to a window of a dwelling situated on the applicant’s land, or(ii) are severely obstructing a view from a dwelling situated on the applicant’s land, and(b) the severity and nature of the obstruction is such that the applicant’s interest in having the obstruction removed, remedied or restrained outweighs any other matters that suggest the undesirability of disturbing or interfering with the trees by making an order under this Part.ss 14B–14I: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
14F Matters to be considered by Court
Before determining an application made under this Part, the Court is to consider the following matters:(a) the location of the trees concerned in relation to the boundary of the land on which the trees are situated and the dwelling the subject of the application,(b) whether the trees existed prior to the dwelling the subject of the application (or the window or part of the dwelling concerned where the dwelling has been altered or added to),(c) whether the trees grew to a height of 2.5 metres or more during the period that the applicant has owned (or occupied) the relevant land,(d) whether interference with the trees would, in the absence of section 6 (3), require any consent or other authorisation under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or the Heritage Act 1977 and, if so, whether any such consent or authorisation has been obtained,(e) any other relevant development consent requirements or conditions relating to the applicant’s land or the land on which the trees are situated,(f) whether the trees have any historical, cultural, social or scientific value,(g) any contribution of the trees to the local ecosystem and biodiversity,(h) any contribution of the trees to the natural landscape and scenic value of the land on which they are situated or the locality concerned,(i) the intrinsic value of the trees to public amenity,(j) any impact of the trees on soil stability, the water table or other natural features of the land or locality concerned,(k) the impact any pruning (including the maintenance of the trees at a certain height, width or shape) would have on the trees,(l) any contribution of the trees to privacy, landscaping, garden design, heritage values or protection from the sun, wind, noise, smells or smoke or the amenity of the land on which they are situated,(m) anything, other than the trees, that has contributed, or is contributing, to the obstruction,(n) any steps taken by the applicant or the owner of the land on which the trees are situated to prevent or rectify the obstruction,(o) the amount, and number of hours per day, of any sunlight that is lost as a result of the obstruction throughout the year and the time of the year during which the sunlight is lost,(p) whether the trees lose their leaves during certain times of the year and the portion of the year that the trees have less or no leaves,(q) the nature and extent of any view affected by the obstruction and the nature and extent of any remaining view,(r) the part of the dwelling the subject of the application from which a view is obstructed or to which sunlight is obstructed,(s) such other matters as the Court considers relevant in the circumstances of the case.ss 14B–14I: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
14G Appearance by local council or Heritage Council
A local council or the Heritage Council (a ) may appear before the Court in any proceedings under this Part in relation to trees if the consent or other authorisation of the relevant authority to interfere with the trees would be required, in the absence of section 6 (3), under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 or the Heritage Act 1977.ss 14B–14I: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
14H Court to provide copy of order to local council and Heritage Council
The Court must provide a copy of any order it makes under this Part (other than an order dismissing an application) to:(a) the council of the local government area in which the trees are situated, and(b) the Heritage Council if the Heritage Council appeared in the proceedings concerned under section 14G.ss 14B–14I: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
14I Review of Part
(1) The Minister is to review this Part to determine whether the policy objectives of the Part remain valid and whether the terms of the Part remain appropriate for securing those objectives.(2) The review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after the period of 2 years from the date of commencement of this Part.(3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 12 months after the end of the period of 2 years.ss 14B–14I: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [11].
Part 3 Enforcement of orders
15 Failure to comply with order
(1) A person must not fail to comply with any requirement imposed on the person by an order under Part 2 or 2A.Maximum penalty: 1,000 penalty units.(2) Proceedings for an offence under subsection (1) may be taken before the Court in its summary jurisdiction.s 15: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [12].
16 Successors in title bound by order
(1) If the Court makes an order under Part 2 requiring a person who is an owner of land on which a tree is situated (an original owner) to carry out work in relation to the tree within a specified period and the original owner ceases to be the owner of the land before the work is carried out, a successor in title to the owner:(a) is required to carry out that work, and(b) to that extent, is bound by the order in the same way as the original owner (except as provided by this section).(1A) If the Court makes an order under Part 2A requiring a person who is an owner of land on which 2 or more trees are situated (an original trees owner) to carry out work in relation to a tree or trees within a specified period and the original trees owner ceases to be the owner of the land before the work is carried out, the immediate successor in title to the owner:(a) is required to carry out that work, and(b) to that extent, is bound by the order in the same way as the original trees owner (except as provided by this section).(2) The successor in title is bound by the order only if the applicant for the order, or the immediate successor in title of the applicant who is entitled to the benefit of the order under section 16A, gives a copy of the order to the successor in title.(3) For the purposes of this section the specified period within which the work is required to be carried out under the order is taken to commence from the date on which the copy of the order is given to the successor in title.s 16: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [13] [14].
16A Immediate successor in title to benefit from certain tree orders
If the Court makes an order under Part 2 in relation to a tree that has caused, or is causing, damage to the applicant’s property, or is likely to cause injury to any person, a person who is the immediate successor in title to the applicant is entitled to the same benefits and rights as the applicant in respect of the order.s 16A: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [15].
17 Carrying out of work by local council
(1) If the Court has made an order under Part 2 or 2A requiring the owner of land on which a tree is situated to carry out work in relation to the tree within a specified period, a person authorised by the council of the local government area in which the tree is situated (an ) may enter the land for the purpose of either or both of the following:(a) ascertaining whether the owner has carried out the work in accordance with the order,(b) carrying out the work if the owner has failed to carry out the work in accordance with the order.(2) An authorised person may enter land under this section only if the applicant for the order concerned has requested the council to act under this section.(3) Before an authorised person enters land under this section, the council must give the owner of the land written notice of the intention to enter the land.(4) The notice must specify the day on which the authorised person intends to enter the land and must be given before that day.(5) This section does not require notice to be given:(a) if entry to the land is made with the consent of the owner of the land, or(b) if entry to the land is required because of the existence or reasonable likelihood of a serious risk to safety, or(c) if entry is required urgently and the case is one in which the general manager of the council has authorised in writing (in the particular case) entry without notice.(6) An authorised person may not enter or inspect, or carry out work on, land under this section unless the authorised person is in possession of an authority and produces the authority if required to do so by the owner of the land.(7) The authority must be a written authority that is issued by the council and that:(a) states that it is issued under this Act, and(b) gives the name of the person to whom it is issued, and(c) describes the land to which the authority applies, and(d) states that the person has the power to enter the land and states either or both of the following:(i) that entry to the land is required for the purpose of ascertaining whether the owner has carried out work in accordance with an order under Part 2 or 2A of this Act,(ii) that the person has the power to carry out work in accordance with such an order, and(e) identifies this section as the source of the powers referred to in paragraph (d), and(f) states the date (if any) on which it expires, and(g) bears the signature of the general manager of the council.(8) The council may recover, in a court of competent jurisdiction, the following from a person who is bound by an order under Part 2 or 2A:(a) the reasonable costs of carrying out work under this section,(b) the amount prescribed by the regulations as the administrative cost for arranging the carrying out of work under this section.s 17: Am 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [16]–[18].
17A Registration of judgment debt as charge on land
(1) The council may, after obtaining an order of a court in proceedings against an owner of land for the recovery of costs in accordance with section 17 (8), apply to the Registrar-General for registration of the order in relation to that land.(2) An application under this section must define the land to which it relates.(3) The Registrar-General must, on application under this section and lodgment of the court order, register the order in relation to the land in such manner as the Registrar-General thinks fit.(4) There is created by force of this section, on the registration of the order, a charge on the land in relation to which the order is registered to secure the payment to the council of the amount payable under the order.(5) Such a charge ceases to have effect in relation to the land:(a) if the council certifies in writing that the amount payable under the order has been paid to the council or that the council has otherwise agreed to the cancellation of the charge—on registration of the cancellation of the charge by the Registrar-General, or(b) on the sale or other disposition of the property with the consent of the council, orwhichever first occurs.(c) on the sale of the land to a purchaser in good faith for value who, at the time of the sale, has no notice of the charge,(6) Such a charge is subject to every charge or encumbrance to which the land was subject immediately before the order was registered and, in the case of land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, is subject to every prior mortgage, lease or other interest recorded in the Register kept under that Act.(7) Such a charge is not affected by any change of ownership of the land, except as provided by subsection (5).(8) If:(a) such a charge is created on land of a particular kind and the provisions of any law of the State provide for the registration of title to, or charges over, land of that kind, anda person who purchases or otherwise acquires the land after the registration of the charge is, for the purposes of subsection (5), taken to have notice of the charge.(b) the charge is so registered,(9) If such a charge relates to land under the provisions of the Real Property Act 1900, the charge has no effect until it is registered under that Act.(10) A council that makes an application under this section for registration of a court order may, by notice in writing, require the person against whom the order was made to pay all or any of the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the council in respect of the registration of the court order. The council may recover any unpaid amounts specified in the notice as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction.(11) In this section, a reference to an order of a court includes a reference to a judgment of a court.s 17A: Ins 2010 No 27, Sch 1 [19].
Part 4 Miscellaneous
18 Rights under other Acts or laws
Except as provided by section 5, nothing in this Act affects the rights that a person has under any other Act or law to interfere with any tree that is not owned by the person.Note—For example, under the Access to Neighbouring Land Act 2000, the Local Court may make a neighbouring land access order that authorises an owner of land to access, and carry out work on, adjoining land for any of the following purposes:(a) ascertaining whether any hedge, tree or shrub is dangerous, dead, diseased, damaged or insecurely rooted,(b) replacing any hedge, tree or shrub,(c) removing, felling, cutting back or treating any hedge, tree or shrub.By way of another example, under the Electricity Supply Act 1995, an electricity network operator may, in certain circumstances, trim or remove a tree if the operator has reasonable cause to believe that the tree:(a) could destroy, damage or interfere with its electricity works, or(b) could make its electricity works become a potential cause of bush fire or a potential risk to public safety.s 18: Am 2007 No 94, Sch 2.
19 Act to bind Crown
This Act binds the Crown in right of New South Wales and, in so far as the legislative power of the Parliament of New South Wales permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.
20 Regulations
The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
21 Savings, transitional and other provisions
Schedule 1 has effect.
22 (Repealed)
s 22: Rep 2007 No 27, Sch 5.
23 Review of Act
(1) The Minister is to review this Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.(2) The review is to be undertaken as soon as possible after the period of 2 years from the date of assent to this Act.(3) A report on the outcome of the review is to be tabled in each House of Parliament within 12 months after the end of the period of 2 years.
Schedule 1 Savings, transitional and other provisions
(Section 21)
1 Regulations
(1) The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of the following Acts:this Act(2) Any such provision may, if the regulations so provide, take effect from the date of assent to the Act concerned or a later date.(3) To the extent to which any such provision takes effect from a date that is earlier than the date of its publication in the Gazette, the provision does not operate so as:(a) to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the State or an authority of the State), the rights of that person existing before the date of its publication, or(b) to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or an authority of the State) in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the date of its publication.
2 Proceedings relating to liability in nuisance
Section 5 does not apply in respect of any proceedings commenced in a court before the commencement of that section.
Schedule 2 (Repealed)
sch 2: Rep 2007 No 27, Sch 5.