A New South Wales court threw out a homeowner's bid to force his neighbours to fell four dying trees after an arboricultural expert found evidence that the man himself had been poisoning them. Denis Cartledge, of Tenterfield, had argued the 20-metre pine trees on the Dhadlie family's adjoining property were nearing the end of their lives and posed a risk to his home from falling dead branches. Instead, the Land and Environment Court found he was most likely responsible for causing the very decline he complained about, undermining his case and shifting liability back onto him.

Acting Commissioner David Galwey, an experienced arboricultural consultant, discovered deliberately drilled holes in three of the trees that matched the pattern of dieback in their crowns, concluding poison had probably been applied through the holes. Cartledge, who has lived at the property for 16 years, dismissed the holes by claiming they occur naturally in trees, but the court ruled on the balance of probabilities that he or an associate caused the damage. He was ordered to pay for removing hazardous dead branches, with further deadwood clearance required after 12 months, though discretionary orders mean he only has to carry out the work if he can afford it, citing financial hardship. Under NSW law, illegally destroying trees carries fines of up to $1.1 million plus $10,000 per day.