Controversial property developer, Phillip Lee is coming under fire from Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and MidCoast Council for alleged unauthorised drainage works at a 2400-hectare property in Tea Gardens, which has the potential to impact the towns water supply.
Fairfax reports that MidCoast council are aware of the works and the potential impacts on the drinking water aquifer, as the potential for prawn and oyster farming to come under threat.
Phillip Lees' company LDF Enterprise own the $22 million property on Viney Creek Road where the works have taken place.
Ms Washington said the property developer is a frequent environmental offender.
"Mr Lee, through his companies, now owns over 3000-hectares of land around Tea Gardens. What we have seen on another site is a proposal for a very large scale development that is currently under Land and Environment Court orders from what we have seen happen on that site already. Significant fines have been imposed but, they have meant nothing to Mr Lee and his company. This man owns a $40 million Point Piper mansion. The fines mean nothing and the response from the agencies needs to be fast and it needs to be fierce and so far we have seen very little," Ms Washington said.
Ms Washington said she will be raising the issue in Parliament on Tuesday.
"Out of sheer frustration, I will be raising this issue in Parliament. I sought a briefing from the Minister for the Environment in January and yet, I got no reasonable response. The agencies knew about this in December and yet an EPA representative set foot on-site just last week," Ms Washington said.
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| Aerial photo of the drainage works on Mr Lees' property in Tea Gardens. Image: Domain. |
