Former tree removalist Levi Kinsman fined after illegally removing tree from vacant Rosslyn Park property

A man has received a whopping fine after chopping down a tree from a vacant $1.2m Adelaide property – and refusing to appear in court.

The offending occurred in 2023. Picture: Google

A man exhibiting “gross carelessness” has been fined $10,000 after illegally removing a 2.1 metre circumference gum tree from a vacant $1.2m property in one of Adelaide’s most affluent areas.

Levi Timothy Daniel Kinsman failed to attend any of his scheduled court appearances in the Environment, Resources and Development Court after he was found guilty of commencing or proceeding with development in the nature of tree-damaging activity.

Earlier this month, a judge remarked “any injustice” during his sentencing was a “consequence” of his poor attendance record.

The court heard Kinsman, the owner of Great Fellers Tree Services, had been engaged by the proprietors of a Hyland Tce property in Rosslyn Park in 2023 – seven years after his business ceased trading – and removed the tree prior to obtaining development approval.

“The registered proprietor of the land advised the informant’s (Burnside council) authorised officers that the company had engaged a person called Levi of Great Fellers Tree Services to remove the river red gum and that the work was undertaken in about June 2023,” Judge Michael Durrant said.

“Subsequent investigations identified that the defendant was that person and that he had formally traded during a period from about 2014 to 2016 under the business name ‘Great Fellers Tree Services’.

Hyland Tce in Rosslyn Park. Picture: Google

“I am satisfied given the prior registration of the name, Great Fellers Tree Services, that Mr Kinsman was in the business of lopping trees and had some industry experience in that respect, which would extend to an understanding and knowledge of the regulatory regime in relation to trees.

“I am satisfied for the purposes of sentencing that this is a case that can rise no higher on the evidence than gross carelessness on the part of Mr Kinsman.”

Burnside council officers conducted a site inspection at the eastern suburbs property following a complaint in relation to a tree on the land, the court heard.

It was there that, after referring to a previous arborist report, they identified a regulated gumtree was no longer present on the land.

During sentencing, Judge Durrant noted there was “no suggestion” the tree was unsafe or deceased.

“The law in respect of this offending aims to protect significant trees from unlawful clearance,” he said.

“Mr Kinsman, as he has done in the past, did not attend at court and I was satisfied that any injustice to him in proceeding in his absence was a consequence of his failure to attend.

“The defendant did not co-operate in the investigation and was not interviewed in relation to this offence. I have no indication of his contrition or remorse and nor do I have any information going to his particular financial circumstances.”

Judge Durrant ordered Mr Kinsman pay a single fine of $10,000.

Originally published as Former tree removalist Levi Kinsman fined after illegally removing tree from vacant Rosslyn Park property