Neighbors at war in one of Sydney’s wealthiest suburbs: Country home owner receives another bitter blow after she complains about six palm trees ‘ruining her $27 million harbor view’

A multi-millionaire neighbor in one of Sydney’s wealthiest suburbs has been dealt a bitter blow after losing a costly court battle over six palm trees ruining the view from her $27 million harborside mansion.

Lawyer Georgina Black and her husband, a property manager, live in the trophy home ‘Indah’ ​​with spectacular views of the Sydney Opera House.

But she has just suffered defeat after being beaten in her appeal by Samira Jeihooni, the wife of property developer Arash Tavakoli.

Rose Bay neighbors had fallen out after Ms Black complained that Ms Jeihooni had planted six cabbage palms on her nearby plot in November 2021.

Mrs Black and husband Graham Edwards, head of British property giant Telereal Trillium, had bought their five-bedroom mansion with uninterrupted views of Sydney Harbor in 2015.

Lawyer Georgina Black and her husband, a property manager, live in the trophy home ‘Indah’ ​​with spectacular interrupted views (above) of Sydney Harbor

Ms Black asked the Land and Environment Court to order Ms Jeihooni to remove the cabbage palms, which can grow up to 15 meters tall.

She said the palms blocked her view of the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House from her dining room, kitchen and a first-floor bedroom.

Ms Black insisted that Ms Jeihooni plant a different type of tree, which would not grow taller than 8 metres.

Her planning officer said in her application that four of her neighbours’ palms had a ‘severe and devastating impact’ on her views.

But Ms Jeihooni said the trees provided privacy and shade for her garden, pool and home.

Last year the Land and Environment Court ruled against Ms Black, finding that the palms did not significantly obstruct her view and that Ms Jeihooni had had the trees pruned since the application was made.

Ms Black appealed the ruling but it was dismissed and she has been ordered to pay costs.

Judge Nicola Pain’s ruling came after both sides brought in senior lawyers to fight each other during the appeal hearing.

Georgina Black, a lawyer who owns the mansion with her husband, has just lost a costly appeal to have the six palm trees felled

Before the trees (above, submitted to the Land and Environment Court) were planted, Georgina Black claimed she had spectacular views of the Harbor Bridge and Opera House from her dining room, kitchen and a first-floor bedroom.

Judge Pain ruled that there was ‘no error of law in finding that four palm trees did not form a hedge’.

The decision is a bitter blow to Ms Black, who is known as a tough lawyer in her field, and whose purchase of the beautiful waterfront mansion nine years ago was portrayed as a “triumphant return” from Britain for the former private figure from Sydney. schoolgirl.

During the lengthy court battle over Ms Black’s views, Acting Lands and Environment Commissioner Lynne Sheridan said Ms Black’s husband had offered to pay for the palms to be removed.

But that was rejected by Ms Jeihooni’s husband, with Ms Sheridan noting that ‘the nature of the communications between the parties during the hearing convinced me that they were unlikely to reach an agreement’.

In order for the Jeihoonis to cut down their palms, the court had to find that two or more trees formed a hedge and seriously obstructed the view.

Pictured: The view of Sydney Harbor from a bedroom in Mrs Black’s home in Rose Bay

While Ms. Black’s arborist said the cabbage palms did indeed form a hedge, Ms. Jeihooni’s arborist said this was not the case and would never happen because their leaves cannot connect.

Ms Sheridan, who visited the site, found that the palms did not form a hedge and gave three reasons in her explanation.

First, she said the trees were not planted close enough together to form a continuous barrier or screen.

“Secondly, I find it unlikely that anyone trying to create a hedge or screen would have planted palm trees which typically have a straight, slender trunk with leaves at the top of the trunk,” Ms Sheridan said.

“Thirdly, there is no sign that these trees were ever maintained as a hedge by (Ms Jeihooni).”

Six palm trees sparked a costly court battle over $27 million harbor views (pictured) in Rose Bay, one of Australia’s wealthiest suburbs

Ms Black asked the Land and Environment Court to order Ms Jeihooni to remove the cabbage tree palms, which can grow up to 15 meters tall (stock image)

Ms Sheridan added that the trees did little to obstruct Ms Black’s view.

‘For example, my observations on site were that the palms obscure the view of the harbor and the Sydney Harbor Bridge from various seats at the dining table or from a particular view from the kitchen.

“However, the entirety of the view, including views of Sydney Harbour, the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House from other parts of the dining table, dining room, living room, kitchen, secondary living areas and bedrooms, will be retained,” she said.