Homeowner spends $3,000 in legal fees over neighbour’s backyard nightmare
- Replies 10
Disputes between neighbours can arise from the most unexpected sources, turning what seems like a minor inconvenience into a frustrating and costly ordeal.
For one homeowner, a backyard plant has turned into a major problem—both figuratively and literally.
What started as a landscaping choice has now led to ongoing frustration and legal action.
A homeowner in Brunswick Heads, NSW, has been left frustrated as his neighbour’s towering bamboo continues to grow unchecked, creating a costly and ongoing dispute.
Paul Wilkinson said the plant, which has nearly doubled in size over five years, now stands at nine metres—dwarfing his two-storey home and casting shade over his solar panels.
The neighbouring property is used as a holiday home and sits vacant for much of the year, making the situation even more exasperating.
Despite several attempts to discuss the issue, Wilkinson claimed his neighbour ‘doesn’t seem to care’.
‘It’s the constant raking up and picking up of bamboo leaves, my footpath is covered in leaves and gets dangerous to walk on,’ he shared.
In June, he asked for the plant to be trimmed to a reasonable height, but his neighbour brushed him off, saying they would discuss it when he was next in town.
‘It’s eight months later, and he still hasn’t been here or been willing to speak about it,’ Wilkinson said.
The towering plant is also affecting Wilkinson’s finances.
In December, he spent $12,000 installing 29 solar panels, expecting long-term savings on his energy bills.
However, the shade from the bamboo significantly reduced their efficiency, particularly during winter when sunlight is crucial.
‘I was hoping my neighbour would be reasonable,’ Wilkinson said.
‘My last power bill was almost a thousand dollars.’
After repeated attempts to resolve the issue, Wilkinson took legal action, spending nearly $3,000 to apply to the Land and Environment Court to have the bamboo cut back.
‘I understand he seeks some level of privacy, but the majority of the foliage is on the top third of the plant,’ he explained.
‘When I actually sit on my veranda, I can look straight through the bamboo at the pool anyway. If it was cut down, it would be at eye level to provide privacy.’
Bamboo is notorious for spreading rapidly and becoming invasive, making it a poor choice for narrow residential gardens.
Garden centre owner Tim Pickles warned that once bamboo takes hold, it can be difficult to control.
‘Bamboo, by nature, spreads and gets wider and wider over time, so in today’s narrow gardens, it impacts your neighbours,’ he said.
‘They’re uncontrollable…it eventually pops up next door…it’s disrupting as it can lift pavements, concrete fences…It’s a powerful plant.’
Wilkinson is not the only homeowner dealing with such issues.
A woman in Port Macquarie recently revealed that her neighbour’s overgrown bamboo had severely impacted her solar panels.
The plant reduced their efficiency to just 5 to 10 per cent of their full capacity, adding $600 to her quarterly power bills.
Bamboo may add privacy and greenery, but when it starts causing problems, is it worth the hassle?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
For one homeowner, a backyard plant has turned into a major problem—both figuratively and literally.
What started as a landscaping choice has now led to ongoing frustration and legal action.
A homeowner in Brunswick Heads, NSW, has been left frustrated as his neighbour’s towering bamboo continues to grow unchecked, creating a costly and ongoing dispute.
Paul Wilkinson said the plant, which has nearly doubled in size over five years, now stands at nine metres—dwarfing his two-storey home and casting shade over his solar panels.
The neighbouring property is used as a holiday home and sits vacant for much of the year, making the situation even more exasperating.
Neighbour’s towering bamboo sparks costly dispute. Image source: Paul Wilkinson
Despite several attempts to discuss the issue, Wilkinson claimed his neighbour ‘doesn’t seem to care’.
‘It’s the constant raking up and picking up of bamboo leaves, my footpath is covered in leaves and gets dangerous to walk on,’ he shared.
In June, he asked for the plant to be trimmed to a reasonable height, but his neighbour brushed him off, saying they would discuss it when he was next in town.
‘It’s eight months later, and he still hasn’t been here or been willing to speak about it,’ Wilkinson said.
The towering plant is also affecting Wilkinson’s finances.
In December, he spent $12,000 installing 29 solar panels, expecting long-term savings on his energy bills.
However, the shade from the bamboo significantly reduced their efficiency, particularly during winter when sunlight is crucial.
‘I was hoping my neighbour would be reasonable,’ Wilkinson said.
‘My last power bill was almost a thousand dollars.’
After repeated attempts to resolve the issue, Wilkinson took legal action, spending nearly $3,000 to apply to the Land and Environment Court to have the bamboo cut back.
‘I understand he seeks some level of privacy, but the majority of the foliage is on the top third of the plant,’ he explained.
‘When I actually sit on my veranda, I can look straight through the bamboo at the pool anyway. If it was cut down, it would be at eye level to provide privacy.’
Bamboo is notorious for spreading rapidly and becoming invasive, making it a poor choice for narrow residential gardens.
Garden centre owner Tim Pickles warned that once bamboo takes hold, it can be difficult to control.
‘Bamboo, by nature, spreads and gets wider and wider over time, so in today’s narrow gardens, it impacts your neighbours,’ he said.
‘They’re uncontrollable…it eventually pops up next door…it’s disrupting as it can lift pavements, concrete fences…It’s a powerful plant.’
Wilkinson is not the only homeowner dealing with such issues.
A woman in Port Macquarie recently revealed that her neighbour’s overgrown bamboo had severely impacted her solar panels.
The plant reduced their efficiency to just 5 to 10 per cent of their full capacity, adding $600 to her quarterly power bills.
Bamboo may add privacy and greenery, but when it starts causing problems, is it worth the hassle?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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