Ekermawi v Bennett (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 40

Land and Environment Court of New South Wales

CITATION : Ekermawi v Bennett (No 2) [2010] NSWLEC 40

APPELLANT Sam Ekermawi PARTIES : RESPONDENTS Keith Bennett and Leanne Bennett

FILE NUMBER(S) : 20142 of 2010; 20637 of 2009

CORAM: Preston CJ

KEY ISSUES: APPEAL :- s 56A(1) appeal against commissioner's decision - application to have a tree on a neighbour's land removed - whether commissioner erred in law in interpreting and applying s 10(2) Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 1996 - whether commissioner made a finding of fact where there was no evidence to support the finding - whether commissioner failed to give adequate opportunity to be heard - whether commissioner failed to address relevant evidence - no error of law established - appeal dismissed with costs

LEGISLATION CITED: Land and Environment Court Act 1979 ss 34B, 56A(1) Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 ss 7, 10(2)

Australian Broadcasting Tribunal v Bond (1990) 170 CLR 321 Australian Gas Light Company v The Valuer General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 Azzopardi v Tasman UEB Industries Ltd (1985) 4 NSWLR 139 Barker v Kyriakides [2007] NSWLEC 292 Beale v GIO of NSW (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 Black v Johnson (No 2) [2007] NSWLEC 513 Bruce v Cole (1998) 45 NSWLR 163 Ekermawi v Bennett [2009] NSWLEC 1398 Grant v Kiama Municipal Council [2006] NSWLEC 70 Horn v Latter [2007] NSWLEC 744 Housing Commission of NSW v Tatmar Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [1983] 3 NSWLR 378 Leichhardt Municipal Council v Seatainer Terminals Pty Ltd (1981) 48 LGRA 409 McPhee v S Bennett Ltd (1935) 52 WN (NSW) 8 CASES CITED: Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 O'Brien v Butler [2008] NSWLEC 1345 Port Stephens Council v Sansom [2007] NSWCA 299; (2007) 156 LGERA 125 Randwick Municipal Councill v Crawley (1986) 60 LGRA 277 Residents Against Improper Development Inc v Chase Property Investments Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 323; (2006) 149 LGERA 360 Seaforth Services Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council (No 2) (1991) 72 LGRA 44 Segal v Waverley Council [2005] NSWCA 310; (2005) 64 NSWLR 177 Sky Design and Concepts Pty Ltd v Pittwater Council (No 5) [2009] NSWLEC 174 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 Sydney Water Corporation v Caruso [2009] NSWCA 391; (2009) 170 LGERA 298 Tesoriero v Leichhardt Municipal Council (1983) 51 LGRA 46 Tuite v Wingecarribee Shire Council (No 2) [2008] NSWLEC 321 Yang v Scerri [2007] NSWLEC 592 Zapata v Strata Plan 42882 [2008] NSWLEC 1218