Donnelly v Hunter’s Hill Council [2020] NSWDC 76

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Donnelly v Hunter's Hill Council [2020] NSWDC 76 Hearing dates: 3-6 February 2020; 20 March 2020 Date of orders: 01 April 2020 Decision date: 01 April 2020 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Dicker SC DCJ Decision: (1) Judgment for the plaintiff in the sum of $35,470.33. (2) The parties are to bring in short minutes of order within 14 days to reflect the reasons of the court. (3) Liberty to the parties to approach the Associate to Dicker DCJ to relist the matter if necessary for further argument about the costs of the proceedings and the precise form of the injunctive order to be made. Catchwords: Torts – private nuisance – large camphor laurel tree located on the defendant council's land – alleged damage to the plaintiff's front fence, gate structures and front paving – whether elements of private nuisance have been established – extent of damages suffered – whether injunction should be ordered – form of injunctive relief appropriate

Jurisdiction – jurisdiction of District Court to grant ancillary injunctive relief Legislation Cited: District Court Act 1973 (NSW) Local Government Act 1993 (NSW) Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 (NSW) Cases Cited: Care Park Pty Ltd v Universal One Communication Pty Ltd [2019] NSWSC 1405 Fearn v The Board of Trustees of the Tate Gallery [2020] EWCA Civ 104 (Court of Appeal) Halsey v Esso Petroleum Co Ltd [1961] 1 WLR 683 Hargrave v Goldman (1963) 110 CLR 40 Kraemers v Attorney-General for Tasmania [1966] Tas St Rep 15 Lawrence v Fen Tigers Ltd [2014] AC 822 Malliate v Sharpe [2001] NSWSC 1057 Marsh v Baxter (2015) 49 WAR 1; [2015] WASCA 169 Michos v Council of the City of Botany Bay [2012] NSWSC 625 Morgan v Khyatt [1964] 1 WLR 475 Owners - Strata Plan No 13218 v Woollahra Municipal Council (2002) 121 LGERA 117 Robson v Leischke (2008) 72 NSWLR 98; [2008] NSWLEC 152 Semple v Wilson [2018] NZHC 992 Torette House Pty Ltd v Berkman (1940) 62 CLR 637 Valherie v Strata Corp No 1841 [2004] SASC 170 Young v Wheeler (1987) Aust Torts Reports 80-126 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Peter Edward Donnelly (Plaintiff) Hunter's Hill Council (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: B C Kasep (Plaintiff) D Kelly (Defendant)