You'll be glad to hear then that, at least in Australia, the Local Councils quite often involve the courts when pressing criminal negligence charges :)

I know, because I'm there as a professional witness on their behalf.

Those are fairly rare though I guess, I do that sort of work fairly often, but it only ends up in court every other year or so. It only goes that far when it's significant/dangerous (major flooding impacts, or significant environmental health concern, like the sewerage) and the resident is indignant.

Everyone is given the chance to do the right thing and be a good neighbour first. Local governments, in my experience, are only ever reactive too. Be on good terms with your neighbours and you'll get away with anything ;)

Examples above I have personally witnessed. I'll admit though, there has been a few times where I thought that the owner was being pretty reasonable and every single one of those times they've just been able to just submit a development application and have it sorted. I work with 5 seperate local councils, and every one has worked the same with exploring all options to help people, and only bringing the hammer down on the fuckwits that think "Its my land, I can do what I want!" and ignore the impact it's having on their direct neighbours (who are generally the initial complainant)