Hi all, I'm not looking for any legal advice here - just any suggestions on the best process to follow.

Before and after attached for reference (including the ugly netting he's now added).

The situation is that I came home on Monday to see that my neighbour had cut down a Chinese Elm tree on my property by leaning over the fence. Not just the branches encroaching on his side but the whole thing. No warning or nothing. I would have been happy to remove this if I'd had some warning to develop some other screening in advance as it's now a direct line of site into eachother's houses.In the process, he let the branches fall onto my garden, having destroyed Giant Bird of Paradise, shell ginger, heliconias, banana trees, star of india. This was alongside the threats of violence to myself and my dogs.I've reported this to the police who are not interested and I know its a Brisbane City Council and QCAT matter. I have to take some action as he is a nasty individual and will likely do similar things if he thinks he can get away with it.I would like someone to come and have a look first before I commence this process as I dont want to put months of effort and headspace into this, only to be told that:- It's a Chinese Elm and therefore they have to be removed anyway

- It was pushing on his fence so he had the right to remove it without warning

However, I don't know who that 'someone' might be that would have the right knowledge and authority to make this call and say whether I have a right to make a claim or not. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Thanks in advance.

https://preview.redd.it/pf7tltvwkj7a1.jpg?width=1126&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=04430332f4fe8c11a721fd8632b8242bb3dc96ec

https://preview.redd.it/mhnd5uvwkj7a1.jpg?width=2000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=3131c819c88a7b7c7725d7984aba132df274524a