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A Hong Kong-based billionaire at the centre of legal action over a tropical island is now facing calls to make improvements to some of his other properties that have fallen into disrepair in Queensland's far north.
Key points:
- Billionaire Benny Wu bought the lease for Double Island situated off the Cairns coast in 2012
- The Department of Resources is now asking the Land Court to determine whether the lease for the island should be forfeited
- There are also calls for Mr Wu to improve and maintain some of his other properties across the far north
The Queensland government launched forfeiture action in the Land Court against the Benny Wu-owned Fortune Island Holding Company, which has leased Double Island off Cairns since 2012.
During its heyday, the island attracted Hollywood stars, but it has deteriorated so badly that the state government issued an ultimatum to Mr Wu in April to restore it to its former glory and open it up to the public.
The state member for Barron River, Craig Crawford, said he was glad the Department of Resources was moving quickly.
"Double Island was a jewel in far north Queensland's tourism crown but has been left for too long. So this news will be appreciated by the community," Mr Crawford said.
Mr Wu owns a large portfolio of prime real estate in Cairns, but the condition of some of the properties has drawn complaints from other businesses and residents and questions from the Cairns City Council.
Acacia Court
On the Cairns Esplanade overlooking the Coral Sea, the Acacia Court Hotel was purchased by Mr Wu for a reported $18 million in 2013.
At the time, the developer announced an $80 million revitalisation and then changed plans two years later, announcing it would be turned into a vertical retirement village.
None of those plans has come to fruition yet.
The Acacia Court website states: "Sorry, this website doesn't take bookings, we suggest the Shangri La Hotel in Cairns for your stay".
Mr Wu also owns the neighbouring property, a federation home once famous for its manicured lawns and gardens, but is now boarded up and overrun with weeds.
Amy Eden from the Cairns City Council said the council had tried to intervene several times.
"I have received many comments from constituents, and I have logged many requests for maintenance to make sure there is no vermin, mosquitoes breeding, or water leaks," she said.
"We have also had police check to see if squatters were living there."
Ms Eden admitted the council's hands were tied.
"It comes down to if a building poses an immediate risk to life and other buildings but, apart from that, it can be quite limited to what council can do," she said.
Wedding venues
In 2016, Mr Wu bought the de Brueys winery in Mareeba, which was once a popular wedding venue, promising to expand the functions and events side of the business.
In 2020, the developer then announced that he would turn de Brueys into a resort and wellbeing centre for Chinese travellers.
Several shipping container-style units were half completed before succumbing to the elements and there is still no foreseeable opening date.
Mr Wu's extensive portfolio also includes Whitfield House near the Cairns Botanic Gardens.
Calls and emails to the wedding and function centre to see if it was still taking bookings were not answered.
Mad Cow/Jungle Room
There were also development plans announced for the once-bustling Mad Cow Tavern/Jungle Room on Spence Street in the Cairns CBD, but the derelict site is now covered in graffiti.
The chairman of Destination Cairns, Denis Donaghy, made a complaint to the billionaire businessman in 2020 when water leaks from the building started running into his adjacent marketing office.
"The water leak has been fixed, but we still suffered some damage," Mr Donaghy said.
"The squatter issue was fixed as the building has now been boarded up."
The ABC has contacted Mr Wu several times for comment, but he has not responded.
Mr Donaghy said the rundown sites were potentially bad for business.
"It's a pretty bad reflection not just on the city but, if you take it a little bit further, you've got to wonder what the council are doing about it," he said.
Mr Donaghy said there were no laws against land banking, which made it difficult to enforce action.
"There are laws that apply to [Mr Wu's] property at Double Island where the lease states that it must be used for tourism purposes," he said.
"It would be good if we had similar laws that required a certain level of maintenance and visual aspect for properties all over the city."