Mildred v Steinhauer [2022] NSWLEC 88

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Mildred v Steinhauer [2022] NSWLEC 88 Hearing dates: 23 June 2022 Date of orders: 19 July 2022 Decision date: 19 July 2022 Jurisdiction: Class 2 Before: Pain J Decision: The Court orders: (1) The summons commencing an appeal dated 21 April 2022 is upheld. (2) The proceedings are remitted to a commissioner other than Acting Commissioner Douglas for rehearing and determination. (3) Exhibits are returned. Catchwords: APPEAL – appeal from acting commissioner's judgment in tree dispute under s 56A of the Land and Environment Court Act – acting commissioner made order for tree pruning not removal of neighbour's tree as sought – failure to accord procedural fairness established – no error of law in dismissing claim – no error of law in ordering inappropriate remedy – no error of law in court order for pruning of tree to be paid for by appellant to large extent – appeal upheld – exclusionary remitter order made Legislation Cited: Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 (NSW), ss 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW), ss 38, 56A Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 56 Cases Cited: Barker v Kryiakides [2007] NSWLEC 292 Black v Johnson (No 2) [2007] NSWLEC 513 Boral Cement Pty Ltd v SHCAG Pty Ltd; Minister for Planning and Infrastructure v SHCAG Pty Ltd [2013] NSWLEC 203 Botany Bay City Council v Pet Carriers International Pty Ltd (2013) 201 LGERA 116; [2013] NSWLEC 147 Bradley v Federico & Anor [2016] NSWLEC 1381 Braun v Basser [2021] NSWLEC 1510 Brimbella Pty Ltd v Mosman Municipal Council (1985) 79 LGERA 367 Burnham v Ross [2021] NSWLEC 1339 Cai v Fairfield City Council [2022] NSWLEC 58 Channon & anor v Norton & anor [2015] NSWLEC 1391 Comcare v Wuth (2018) 260 FCR 89; [2018] FCAFC 13 Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000) 205 CLR 337; [2000] HCA 63 Fang v Li [2017] NSWLEC 1503 Hoy v Coffs Harbour City Council [2015] NSWLEC 128 Initial Action v Woollahra Municipal Council (2018) 236 LGERA 256; [2018] NSWLEC 118 Kostas v HIA Insurance Service Pty Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 390; [2010] HCA 32 Li v Fang [2018] NSWLEC 33 McPherson v Lake [2017] NSWLEC 1081 Mildred v Steinhauer [2022] NSWLEC 1148 Murlan Consulting Pty Limited v Ku-Ring-Gai Municipal Council and Anor [2008] NSWLEC 318 Page v Lang [2012] NSWLEC 1205 Re Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Ex parte Miah (2001) 206 CLR 57; [2001] HCA 22 Robson v Leischke (2008) 72 NSWLR 98; [2008] NSWLEC 152 Smith & Hannaford v Zhang & Zhou [2011] NSWLEC 29 Stead v State Government Insurance Commission (1986) 161 CLR 141; [1986] HCA 54 The Presbyterian Church (New South Wales) Property Trust v Woollahra Municipal Council [2015] NSWLEC 47 Thronberry v Packer [2010] NSWLEC 1069 Turner v Bennett [2008] NSWLEC 1364 Warkworth Mining Limited v Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association Inc (2014) 86 NSWLR 527; [2014] NSWCA 105 Wood v Sleeman [2020] NSWLEC 1513 Yang v Scerri [2007] NSWLEC 592 Texts Cited: Class 2 'Tree Applications' Practice Note dated 22 November 2018 M Aronson and M Groves, Judicial Review of Administrative Action and Government Liability, (7th ed, 2021, Thomson Reuters) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Giles Mildred (Appellant) Erna Steinhauer (Respondent) Representation: Appellant (self-represented) K Sosna, agent (Respondent) File Number(s): 2022/114099 Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Land and Environment Court of NSW Jurisdiction: Class 2 Citation: [2022] NSWLEC 1148 Date of Decision: 28 March 2022 Before: Douglas AC File Number(s): 2021/249664