A billionaire couple have won the right to remove a single tree from the <br>
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driveway of their lavish $20million mansion after being blocked by their <br>
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local council. <br>
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Paul Holmes a Court, the son of Australia's first billionaire Robert Holmes a Court, and his <br>
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wife Zara had been at loggerheads with their local council over a request to remove <br>
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a single peppermint tree growing in the middle of <br>
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their driveway.<br>
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The couple bought the four-bedroom mansion in the affluent, tree-lined suburb overlooking Perth's Freshwater Bay for $20.1million in August.<br>
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They wanted to remove the tree but the Shire of Peppermint <br>
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Grove refused the request on the grounds the tree was not dead or deceased. <br>
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'We are very lucky to live here, but I have to say that the tree placement is unusual,' Ms Holmes a Court previously told a council meeting. <br>
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'I'm quite a reasonable and rational person, but a tree in the middle of the driveway makes it quite tricky to reverse out.'<br>
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The couple enjoyed a breakthrough at a council meeting last week after an alternative <br>
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motion was unanimously passed that allowed the tree to be removed on the condition they paid <br>
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a $2,500 bond before any work was done on the driveway.<br>
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They will also need to plant two replacement trees on their property.<br>
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Paul Holmes a Court (pictured) is the son of Australia's first billionaire, famed tycoon Robert Holmes a Court, who died suddenly of <br>
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heart failure at the age of 53<br>
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Paul Holmes à Court and his wife Zara won a <br>
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council battle to remove a peppermint tree (pictured) from the driveway <br>
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of their $20million mansion<br>
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Ms Holmes a Court previously claimed the tree's odd placement also made <br>
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it difficult to spot cars turning the corner at a nearby intersection with Bay View Terrace.<br>
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After the motion to remove the tree was passed at the <br>
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meeting, councillor Douglas Jackson said it was a 'good outcome'.<br>
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'I think it meets both the owners' wants, or expectation, but also matches the <br>
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council's needs at the same time by ensuring that there <br>
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is tree cover on the verge of that property,' he said.<br>
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Peppermint Grove is hoping to implement a policy that would <br>
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even make it an offence to damage or remove any mature trees on private property without council approval.<br>
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Last month, WA Planning Minister John Carey said he hoped <br>
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the Shire of Peppermint Grove would 'take a common sense approach' <br>
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to the issue.<br>
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'This is part of the challenge that we do <br>
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have with local government. I've always been on the record that we need <br>
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local governments to take a common sense approach to issues,' Mr Carey told the West Australian. <br>
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'And I understand people are passionate about trees.<br>
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But ultimately, we do need local governments to assess <br>
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the situation and find pragmatic outcomes.'<br>
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According to the online listing for the four-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion - which is built on a corner block <br>
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along the banks of the Swan River - the sprawling Federation-style <br>
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property was built in around 1904. <br>
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The Holmes à Court property was built in around 1904 in Federation 'Arts and Crafts' style<br>
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The home boast an unparalleled view of the Swan River overlooking Fresh Water Bay<br>
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'Designed in the rare Federation 'Arts and Crafts' style, the home has retained all its <br>
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elegance and splendour via lofty ceilings, sweeping verandas, charming decorative arches, casement-style sash windows, and walls of French doors that <br>
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bathe the home in light, reflecting river views beyond,' the listing said.<br>
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The property also features 'Plush Champagne-hued carpets' <br>
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and 'cobble-stoned remote garage to accommodate six cars, abundant storage, gym <br>
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area, double vanity rain-shower bathroom and climate-controlled wine cellar.'<br>
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Mr Holmes a Court is the chief executive of prize-winning ขาย wine - http://xinyue234.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=663063 label Vasse Felix and the brother of Peter Holmes à Court, who once jointly owned of the South Sydney Rabbitohs <br>
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with Russell Crowe, and climate philanthropist Simon Holmes à Court.<br>
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Property ValuePerthWestern AustraliaProperty
A billionaire couple have won