Major update after the son of Australia’s first billionaire became entangled in a bizarre council battle over a single peppermint tree

A billionaire couple have won the right to remove a single tree from the driveway of their lavish $20 million mansion after being blocked by the council.

Paul Holmes a Court, the son of Australia’s first billionaire Robert Holmes a Court, and his wife Zara had fallen out with their council over a request to remove a single peppermint tree growing in the middle of their driveway.

The couple bought the four-bedroom mansion in the affluent tree-lined suburb overlooking Perth’s Freshwater Bay in August for $20.1 million.

They wanted to remove the tree, but the Shire of Peppermint Grove denied the request because the tree was not dead or deceased.

“We are fortunate to live here, but I must say the placement of the trees is unusual,” Ms Holmes told a Court earlier at a council meeting.

“I’m a reasonable and rational person, but a tree in the middle of the driveway makes it difficult to back up.”

The couple had a breakthrough at a council meeting last week after an alternative motion was unanimously passed that allowed the tree to be removed provided they posted a $2,500 deposit before any work was done on the driveway.

They will also have to plant two replacement trees on their property.

Paul Holmes à Court and his wife Zara won a council battle to remove a peppermint tree (pictured) from the driveway of their $20 million mansion

Ms Holmes a Court previously claimed the strange placement of the tree also made it difficult to see cars turning the corner at a nearby intersection with Bay View Terrace.

After the motion to remove the tree was passed at the meeting, Councilor Douglas Jackson said it was a “good outcome.”

“I think it meets the needs or expectations of the owners, but at the same time it also meets the needs of the community by ensuring that there are trees on the edge of that property,” he said.

Peppermint Grove hopes to implement a policy that would even make it a crime to damage or remove mature trees on private property without council approval.

Last month, WA Planning Minister John Carey said he hoped the Shire of Peppermint Grove would take a “common sense approach” to the issue.

“This is part of the challenge we have with local government. I have always emphasized that we need local authorities to take a common sense approach to issues,” Mr Carey told the newspaper. Western Australian.

‘And I understand that people are passionate about trees. But ultimately we need local governments to assess the situation and find pragmatic outcomes.”

According to the online listing for the four-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion – which is built on a corner block along the banks of the Swan River – the sprawling Federation-style property was built around 1904.

The Holmes à Court building was built around 1904 in the style of the Federation ‘Arts and Crafts’

The house offers unparalleled views of the Swan River overlooking Fresh Water Bay

‘Designed in the rare Federation ‘Arts and Crafts’ style, the house retains all its elegance and splendor through high ceilings, impressive verandas, charming decorative arches, casement style sash windows and walls with French doors that bathe the house in light, reflecting the view of the river beyond,” the listing said.

The property also features “soft champagne carpets” and a “paved remote garage for six cars, plenty of storage, a gym, a double vanity bathroom with rain shower and a climate-controlled wine cellar.”

Mr Holmes a Court is the CEO of award-winning wine label Vasse Felix and the brother of Peter Holmes à Court, who once co-owned the South Sydney Rabbitohs with Russell Crowe, and climate philanthropist Simon Holmes à Court.