Andrew O’Keefe’s waterfront rehab cabin part of a private tourist resort

The NSW rehab facility where troubled game show host Andrew O’Keefe will spend his next 12 months has also hosted numerous bikies. We reveal how.

Troubled game show host Andrew O’Keefe’s drug and alcohol rehab centre is actually part of a ­private tourist resort, which has clashed with the local council over whether it is unauthorised, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

The self-contained waterfront cabin where O’Keefe will spend up to a year is one of 42 “holiday” homes at Fisherman’s Village near Port Stephens.

The retreat’s former restaurant is being used as the rehab’s community centre.

Port Stephens Council on Thursday said the case was headed to the Land and Environment Court.

“The unauthorised use of the premises for a rehabilitation centre is currently the subject of a court matter and council are unable to provide further comment,” the council’s development and compliance section manager Kate Drinan said.

Andrew O'Keefe spoke briefly on his way to rehab, saying he was feeling much better since being released from jail. Picture: 9 News

The centre is run by the Connect Global Christian-orientated charity, whose founder Ross Pene disputed it had done anything wrong in the nine years it has been operating at Swan Bay, helping up to 20 men at a time, who are mainly referred by the courts.

Its highest-profile client, O’Keefe was freed on bail earlier this week by the Supreme Court on condition he live at the centre for between six and 12 months, and consult with court-approved psychiatrists and psychologists as he faces allegations that he grabbed a former sex worker by the throat in January.

The former host of The Chase and Deal or No Deal has pleaded not guilty to six charges, including intentionally choking a person without consent, three counts of common ­assault and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

It is the latest in a string of controversies for the troubled star.

“It is all legit and above board,” Mr Pene, a pastor who rebuilds Harley-Davidson motorcycles and rides with the God’s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club, said of the facility.

The rehab facility where Andrew O'Keefe is staying at Swan Bay on the Karuah River north of Newcastle. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

“We run a very successful program here. When the men are all clean and doing well, they not only start to like themselves, but they start to love themselves, and when they do that, they can start to love other people.

“There are no hidden agendas.”

Connect Global board member and lawyer Mark Ramsland said that as a private rehabilitation facility, it did not need approval to operate.

Andrew O'Keefe’s rehab facility is in a legal stoush with the loca council over its operation. Picture: Peter Lorimer.

The Connect Global rehabilitation centre in NSW where Andrew O'Keefe will do his rehab stint. Picture: Connect Global

“Judges accept that what we do here is valuable. The men who are referred here work very hard,” Mr Ramsland said.

Records show the charity and Mr Pene own or control at least 25 of the cabins, as well as the restaurant and a large shed.

Photos posted to social media show members of the Bandidos bikie gang visiting the camp.

In March this year, the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found no evidence that Connect Global was breaching by-laws that the cabins were not to be used as residences nor that the rehab centre was a “nuisance”, in a case brought by two owners of other cabins.

Photographs posted to Facebook show members of the Bandidos bikie gang visiting the camp and Mr Pene said they had been invited for morning tea some time ago.

It is not suggested that they are in any way affiliated with the facility.