Authorities have ordered the mining magnate Clive Palmer to “make compliant” an allegedly unauthorised concrete fence built around his extensive Brisbane riverfront estate, which neighbours say has blocked a family of ducks from reaching a nearby pond.
Palmer recently paid $5m for a property at Jesmond Road, Fig Tree Pocket. The purchase consolidated three separate blocks of land into a single 3.6 hectare property fronting the Brisbane River.
Last month a large concrete fence was built around the estate, causing what locals say was a “traffic jam” on Jesmond Road, as the apparently confused ducks were unable to cross into the property.
A local resident first raised concerns last month on a local Fig Tree Pocket community Facebook page.
“Fig Tree Pocket residents are meant to build fences so the wildlife can roam freely,” she said.
“We have noticed in the last week or so that the ducks and their ducklings are unable to access this property and the pond located on this property, which they have been doing for years.
“We have been advised if more people in the community voice their concerns about the wall then the council is more likely to act quickly.”
Another local resident responded: “I think its great what you are doing but given whose property it is I don’t think much will be done.”
The Brisbane City Council said on Thursday: “Council is aware of a non-compliant fence on Jesmond Street, Fig Tree Pocket. The property owner has been contacted by council and advised to make the fence compliant, or enforcement action may be taken.”
The local state MP, Michael Berkman, lodged a complaint with the council, claiming the new fence breached planning rules, and said city authorities had sent an inspector to the site this week.
Here's an archetypal good vs evil battle happening in my electorate: Clive Palmer has built a big, ugly, concrete fence around his property, and apparently it's blocking the path a family of ducks used to take to swim in the pond. Thread 👇 pic.twitter.com/qWz3JXxfWm
— Michael Berkman (@mcberkman) December 9, 2020
“The poor ducks got stuck on Jesmond Road and cautious drivers had to slow down or stop to avoid running them over,” Berkman, one of two Greens in the Queensland parliament, posted on Twitter.
Berkman said the fence was apparently “unlawful” because it breached the local neighbourhood plan, which required fences to be under 1.5 metres high and largely transparent.
Palmer has been contacted for comment.
