reported that the developer named “China Bloom” signed a lease in 2019 to lease a part of Keswick Island, 34 kilometers northeast of the coast of Mackay in Queensland’s port city, for a lease term For 99 years.
Residents on the island recently complained that the developer prohibited their ships from entering a public ramp in the leased area and denied them access to a simple airstrip. The company also tried to prevent them from using a beach on the island, which local residents claimed was reserved for wealthy Chinese tourists.
"I just think they don't want Australians to be on this island. I think they want this island to be used by Chinese tourists only." said Julie Willis, a resident who has left the island.
Ms. Willis and her husband Robert Lee
reported that although 80% of the forest-covered island belongs to national parks, the Chinese company that controls the remaining 20% of the site has used its power to block this All entrances to the national park. A sign warning local residents "do not enter" was also erected on a beach.
In February of this year, Ms. Willis and her husband Robert Lee were shocked when they were only given three days to vacate the property when they moved their rented house on the island. When they later stated that they wanted to buy the house, the company asked them to pay an additional AUD 100,000 (about 480,000 yuan) as a deposit to repair the house. Willis said, "I think they want to prevent us from buying property, they don't want us to live here." The local residents also complained that the company prohibits homeowners from renting out the property or advertising on AirBnb, thus killing the local area. Tourism. The residents of
reported the above issues to the Queensland Department of Resources, but a spokesperson for the department explained that these issues should be resolved privately by the tenant and the residents, "Our responsibility is to cooperate with the main tenant China Bloom and the sub-tenant To ensure that their related activities comply with the terms of the lease."
