JUST weeks after threatening to track down the Chinese financiers of the derelict Birubi Beach Resort, mayor Bruce MacKenzie has followed through on his promise to the people of Anna Bay and Port Stephens.
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In a strongly worded letter addressed to Mr Grand Chan emailed on December 15, Cr MacKenzie has called on the resort owner to clean up the site or risk damaging Australian-Chinese relations as well as being charged to pay clean-up costs.
‘‘We have tried various avenues to seek to remedy the site, looking to work closely with the developers and land owners,’’ Cr MacKenzie wrote.
‘‘Unfortunately, to date this co-operation has not been reciprocated and the people of Port Stephens are losing faith not only in this development but with the wider Chinese community.
‘‘Unless we work together to solve this community eyesore, the damage to Australian-Chinese relationships will be irreparable.
‘‘The council has the legislative powers to rehabilitate and clean the site and send the owners [a bill for] the costs, which would be expensive.
“However, this is not our preferred option.’’
In reference to the poor condition of the much maligned Anna Bay resort, Cr MacKenzie called it an embarrassment and a blight on an otherwise impressive landscape and beautiful community.
‘‘I am particularly disappointed that I, as mayor, personally supported the proposed development and it is now a bad reflection on me, my fellow councillors, council staff and the wider community,’’ he added.
Cr MacKenzie went on to personally invite Mr Chan to visit the site ‘‘so that we can work together to find a solution to clean up this site for the people of Port Stephens’’.
