New South Wales Law Reform Commission

To the Honourable Jeff Shaw QC MLC

Attorney General for New South Wales

Dear Attorney

Neighbour and neighbour relations

We make this final Report pursuant to the reference to this Commission dated 23 December 1987.

Professor Michael Tilbury

Commissioner

Professor David Weisbrot

Commissioner

Judge John Goldring

Commissioner

Mr Craig Kelly

Commissioner

November 1998

Terms of reference

Pursuant to section 10 of the Law Reform Commission Act 1967 (NSW), the Attorney General, the Honourable Jeff Shaw QC MLC, referred the following matter to the Law Reform Commission:

The Law Reform Commission is to inquire into and report on:

1. The laws which define and regulate relationships between people who live on neighbouring land with particular reference to:

(a) access to neighbouring land for the purposes of maintaining fixtures and services required by an adjoining property;

(b) easements for joint services, including joint connections for sewerage and drainage;

(c) problems caused by trees; and

(d) noise control as it affects neighbours.


2. Any related matter.

Participants

Pursuant to s 12A of the Law Reform Commission Act 1967 (NSW) the Chairman of the Commission constituted a Division for the purpose of conducting the reference. The members of the Division are:

Professor Michael Tilbury*

Professor David Weisbrot

Judge John Goldring

Mr Craig Kelly

(* denotes Commissioner-in-Charge)

Officers of the Commission

Executive Director

Mr Peter Hennessy

Librarians

Ms Beverley Caska

Ms Aferdita Kryeziu

Administrative Assistance

Ms Roenna Colaco

Ms Shannon Field

Desktop Publishing

Ms Rebecca Young

Consultants

Kearney McKenzie and Associates