A billionaire couple have won the right to remove a single tree from the driveway of their lavish $20million mansion after being <br>
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blocked by their local council. <br>
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Paul Holmes a Court, the son of Australia's first <br>
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billionaire Robert Holmes a Court, and his wife Zara <br>
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had been at loggerheads with their local council over a request to remove a single <br>
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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,<br>
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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 Grove refused <br>
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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 <br>
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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 <br>
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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 <br>
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week after an alternative motion was unanimously passed that allowed the tree to <br>
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be removed on the condition they paid a $2,500 bond before any <br>
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work was done on the driveway.<br>
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They will also need to plant two replacement <br>
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trees on their property.<br>
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Paul Holmes a Court (pictured) is the son of Australia's <br>
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first billionaire, famed tycoon Robert Holmes a Court, who died suddenly <br>
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of heart failure at the age of 53<br>
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Paul Holmes à Court and his wife Zara won a council battle to remove <br>
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a peppermint tree (pictured) from the driveway of their $20million mansion<br>
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Ms Holmes a Court previously claimed the tree's odd placement also made it difficult to spot <br>
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cars turning the corner at a nearby intersection with Bay <br>
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View Terrace.<br>
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After the motion to remove the tree was passed at the 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 <br>
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matches the council's needs at the same time by ensuring that there 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 even make it <br>
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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 the Shire of Peppermint Grove would 'take a common sense approach' to the <br>
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issue.<br>
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'This is part of the challenge that we do have with local government.<br>
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I've always been on the record that we need local governments <br>
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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 the situation and find pragmatic outcomes.'<br>
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According to the online listing for the four-bedroom, four-bathroom <br>
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mansion - which is built on a corner block along the banks of the Swan River - <br>
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the sprawling Federation-style 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 <br>
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Water Bay<br>
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'Designed in the rare Federation 'Arts and Crafts' style, the home <br>
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has retained all its elegance and splendour via lofty <br>
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ceilings, sweeping verandas, charming decorative arches, casement-style sash windows, and walls of French doors <br>
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that bathe the home in light, reflecting river views beyond,' the listing said.<br>
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The property also features 'Plush Champagne-hued <br>
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carpets' and 'cobble-stoned remote garage to accommodate six cars, abundant storage,<br>
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gym area, double vanity rain-shower bathroom and climate-controlled <br>
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wine cellar.'<br>
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Mr Holmes a Court is the chief executive of prize-winning wine <br>
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label Vasse Felix and the brother of Peter Holmes à Court, who once jointly owned of the <br>
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South Sydney Rabbitohs with Russell Crowe, and climate philanthropist Simon Holmes à Court.<br>
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A billionaire couple have won