Stewart v Inner West Council [2023] NSWLEC 136

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Stewart v Inner West Council [2023] NSWLEC 136 Hearing dates: 16 November 2023 Date of orders: 16 November 2023 Decision date: 16 November 2023 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Preston CJ Decision: The Court orders: (1) The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: APPEAL – appeal on questions of law – Commissioner's decision to refuse permit for tree removal – tree in heritage conservation area – development consent required to remove tree – tree of a listed species in development control plan – permit required to remove tree – whether development consent or permit required in circumstances – whether misconstruction of development control plan – application of incorrect development control plan – whether error material Legislation Cited: Environment and Planning Assessment Act 1979 (NSW) ss 1.5(1)(f), 3.43(5), 4.3, 4.12, 4.16(1), 8.2 Inner West Local Environmental Plan cl 1.8A Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) s 56A(1) Leichhardt Local Environmental Plan 2013 cll 5.9(3), 5.10(2), 5.10(2)(a)(iii),5.10(3) Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plan) Amendment (Vegetation) Order 2017 cl 2 State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 ss 2.2(1), 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 2.10, 2.11 Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Hinkler Ave 1 Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2023] NSWCA 264 Owners Strata Plan 40546 v McRae [2023] NSWLEC 1203 Stewart v Inner West Council [2023] NSWLEC 1240 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr Robert Stewart (First Appellant) Ms Shuiping Zhou (Second Appellant) Inner West Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr Robert Stewart (self-represented) (First Appellant) Ms Shuiping Zhou (self-represented) (Second Appellant) Mr R White (Respondent)