Sydney builder fined $45,000 after attempting to appeal City of Canterbury Bankstown fine for destroying oak tree

A Sydney property developer who felled an 80-year-old oak tree has been fined $45,000 after appealing to the courts against an earlier fine imposed on him by the local council.

Last year, Canterbury Bankstown Council carried out an inspection at the builder’s Revesby construction site.

According to the council, the inspector found that excavation work was taking place at the site within the required tree protection zone, without the supervision of a certified arborist.

The work jeopardised the stability of a protected English oak tree at the site, which the council had to remove due to safety concerns.

The builder was subsequently fined $3,000 by the city for failing to comply with tree protection measures.

Project developer files appeal in court

The developer has appealed the fine which was heard at Bankstown District Court earlier this month.

In court, Judge Walsh was unimpressed with the builder’s conduct and ruled against him.

The developer, who failed to show up, was fined $45,000.

Magistrate Walsh said the builder was “well aware of the legal ways of dealing with this situation”.

A Canterbury City Council spokesperson in Bankstown said the council places great importance on protecting valuable trees.

“The Council takes the enforcement of environmental rules seriously and we will not tolerate people who seek to break the rules,” the spokesperson said.

“May this be a warning that if you do anything wrong, you will be caught and fined.”