Brisbane City Council order Clive Palmer change 1.8m concrete wall around Fig Tree Pocket mansion

Council has ordered Clive Palmer to change a 1.8m-high fence around his Brisbane mansion after claims it will stop ducks using his pond.

A huge concrete wall around billionaire Clive Palmer’s riverfront Fig Tree Pocket mansion is ruffling feathers among neighbours — and the local ducks.

Neighbours said the 1.8m wall, which forms a U-shaped barrier hundreds of metres long around three sides of the Palmer compound in Brisbane’s inner west, has confused a family of ducks.

The birds were accustomed to crossing busy Jesmond Rd to a pond on Mr Palmer’s property, but after the wall went up they began “queuing’’ on the road.

Fig Tree Pocket residents say ducks have become trapped after Clive Palmer built a massive concrete fence around his mansion. Picture: Supplied

Some were still managing to waddle through an unfinished front gate, but resident Katie Kendall was concerned for their fate once the gate was completed.

“There are several families, with five or six ducklings each, that have been used to crossing Jesmond Rd from the park opposite to get into the pond,’’ she said.

“There are also signs around warning motorists about turtles, so we are concerned this might impact them.

“The post holes went in about a month ago, so we knew a fence was coming, but the wall went up in sections and has only just been finished.’’

Motorists were forced to slow or take evasive action to avoid them.

A spokesman for Mr Palmer said the claims were “absolute rubbish’’.

“Clive has no knowledge of any compliance issues on his property,’’ he said.

“The fence is constructed on Mr Palmer’s property and is in accordance with regulations.

“There is an opening in the fence still used by ducks. They have access to both the river and the pond, which is on his property, and the ducks fly in as well.’’

Rivergum Retreat at 36 Needham St, Fig Tree Pocket. Mr Palmer owns it, and two adjoining properties.

Surveillance cameras installed along Palmer’s millionaire’s row street

Local state Greens MP, Michael Berkman, said even if the fence was compliant or changed to become compliant it might still mean ducks could not access the pond.

“Council and Clive should be looking for ways to maintain this little wildlife corridor,’’ Mr Berkman said.

“I’m really pleased Council is taking some action on this, but if the fence isn’t fixed in a timely manner, then they shouldn’t give Palmer any breaks.’’

A Brisbane City Council spokeswoman said Council was “aware of a non-compliant fence’’ on Jesmond Rd.

“The property owner has been contacted by Council and advised to make the fence compliant, or enforcement action may be taken,’’ she said.

Part of the huge concrete fence now surrounding Clive Palmer's Fig Tree Pocket mansion.

A neighbour, who declined to be named, said the Neighbourhood Plan stated that fences in the area could not be more than 1.5m high and must not be solid.

“The thing that drew me to FTP is the country feel,’’ she said.

“A big part of that is the key entry points into the suburb.

“This is reflected in the FTP neighbourhood plan that requires areas in the rural housing zone comply with relevant fencing and boundary requirements to preserve the rural feel.’’

In August it was revealed the high-profile billionaire and former politician had bought a third property, for $5 million.

He now has three adjoining blocks bounded the river, Needham and Ningana streets and Jesmond Rd.

The latest purchase took his total spend on the 3.6ha compound to $17.5 million, including the iconic Rivergum Retreat once owned by former Linc Energy boss Peter Bond.