Locals at war with Australian billionaire after large pristine land purchase
When a community group were told a billionaire developer planned to build a $200 million resort in their backyard, they banded together for a fight that has raged for 15 years.
The Chinese-born developer who has rocked the boat with Port Stephens locals is billionaire Phillip Dong Fang Lee who lives in a $50 million mansion overlooking the Sydney harbour with his wife Xiaobei Shi.
The developer's prestigious $120 million property portfolio spans across and beyond Sydney's eastern suburbs, but it's two hours north where his associated companies own 5569 hectares — enough land to cover the playing surface of the MCG more than 2000 times — that has locals fuming.
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Retirees Sherryl and Len Yearsley said their Fame Cove Community Action Group had blocked several grandiose development applications, including a $200 million resort and golf course.
"I think he's used to having a lot of money and getting exactly what he wants, when he wants it," Mr Yearsley told A Current Affair.
Without council approval, the billionaire has had trees slashed down and canals built with kilometres of roads carved into untouched wilderness.
Delicate marine sanctuary waters divide local Ross Griffiths' property with Mr Lee's and the local claims the development is destructive.
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"I don't call it development, I call it destruction has been allowed to happen," Mr Griffiths said.
Some of the companies which are associated with the developer have copped fines of $300,000 for illegal land clearing and dam building.
The NSW Land and Environment Court has ordered one of the developers associated companies — Tea Garden Farms — to rehabilitate the damaged land by December 31.
Former general manager of the MidCoast Council Glenn Handford was tasked with holding the property developer to account but two years ago he suddenly quit his post and started consulting for Mr Lee, which has stunned some locals.
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There have now been development applications approved for five dwellings, two roads and a jetty on the land, but locals say they are still in the dark as to what size or shape they will be.
Mr Lee has also handed the directorship of three companies holding Port Stephens land ownership to his wife.
A Current Affair tried to track down the wealthy couple at their mansion in Sydney's Point Piper, which they purchased for $39.9 million in 2015, but the woman who answered the door wouldn't confirm whether she was Mr Lee's wife.
However, she did say she would call her lawyer, while refusing to answer any further questions.
NSW MP for Port Stephens and NSW Shadow Environment Minister Kate Washington claims the billionaire doesn't respect the law.
"I feel there should be criminal sanctions. There seems be nothing else that might make him start respecting our law," she said.
But for locals like Lynda, Mr Lee's development is more of a matter of life and death for local wildlife.
"Because of the six-foot barrier fence, the koalas can't get through and they are now finding their way back into the highway with 110km/h cars and trucks coming down. We've found 12 [koalas] in last 12 months," Lynda said.
Mr Handford reluctantly found himself in the spotlight after attempts to contact the Lees were unsuccessful.
When approached by A Current Affair, Mr Handford denied having anything to do with construction on the property.
"I had nothing to do with the fence, the construction or the approval or the construction or anything," Mr Handford said.
"As general manager I signed the consent orders, but I had nothing to do with the preparation of them."
The consultant's town planning expertise has helped secure nine development proposals from his old council for Mr Lee's associated companies since he swapped his council salary for a spot on the billionaire's payroll.
Since our involvement the local koala conservation group says Mr Handford has been in touch on behalf of Mr Lee to find a solution for the koalas.
