Billionaire John Van Lieshout cops criticism from residents after bulky wall built across proposed Oceanway on Gold Coast

A business powerhouse often recognised as Queensland’s richest man has drawn the ire of Coast residents after a wall for his holiday mansion was built across the width of the proposed Oceanway.

A billionaire has drawn the ire of Main Beach residents over a bulky grey masonry block wall built across the width of the proposed Oceanway, partially blocking the view from a public lookout.

The property, which corners Woodroffe Ave and Main Beach Pde, is owned by Super A-Mart founder John Van Lieshout, who has built a three-level holiday mansion there.

Land title documents have failed to ‘shed light on how the legal boundary of the property juts out to cover the Oceanway route, while neighbouring properties do not.

John Van Lieshout. Picture: Mark Calleja

Gold Coast City Council appears appears to be on a collision course with Mr Van Lieshout, with city hall sources telling the Bulletin that the the property owners will be advised the wall or other structures cannot be built so far east.

But Mr Van Lieshout said the wall had been built on his land with council approval – and that he had already removed part of it so it wouldn’t block public views.

“We’ve already corrected the wall,” he said on Thursday.

“We have builders and architects doing this sort of thing but when we got down there, we could see it wasn’t fair that it was blocking the view, so we’ve gone in and taken the part away that people were complaining about.

The wall. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“We love the Gold Coast and the last thing we want to do is upset people there.”

Mr Van Lieshout – often listed as Queensland’s richest man, acquired the previous ageing three-bedroom house for $9.01m in February 2009.

Its former owners, Max and Cleo Conrad, had bought it for $13.5m in 2006 and had turned down a $14.5m offer for it in 2008.

The 963sq m plot has 21m of direct ocean frontage for the new mansion, a Baden Goddard-designed home with basement parking, two living levels, and a partial third level.

Mr Van Lieshout said the extra land was an anomaly with the property that existed before he bought it.

“It’s the only one the the Coast – we have this 5x6m piece of land that comes out,” he said.

“I’ve never found out why, it was always really strange.

“The council could have bought it at any time – and maybe one day they’ll have to – but they don’t want to pay the price that it’s currently worth.”

Council mapping shows the boundary of the property (top right of picture) extends across the proposed Oceanway (coloured green) while neighbouring properties do not.

Mr Van Lieshout sold the business of Super A-Mart to private equity in 2006 but retained ownership of the freehold.

He now operates investment company JVL Investment Group and developer Unison Projects and has an estimated net worth of nearly $2.6bn.

City planning maps indicate while the new wall appears to be built on private property, it extends beyond the foreshore seawall.

The wall has drawn the ire of scores of locals on social media with Chris Lanbein writing: “Hopefully it is illegal and protruding on to public land and gets removed quickly, ugly and unnecessary, come on GCCC, it is way past the fencing along here.”

Nilda Pisano asked “how can the council approve a wall which obstruct the view from the street to the north side of the beach? They can always pull it down if we all complain. Every day dozen of people go there to assess the surf. It’s a big mistake.”

A masonry block wall extends from a mansion that's been built on northern beachside of Woodroffe Ave, effectively finishing the oceanway. Picture Glenn Hampson

The wall has caused clashes in recent days between tradies and residents who have taken photographs for a complaint file to be sent to council.

A female resident who was confronted by up to six workers said she was told to “f*** off and get out of here” as she attempted to document how the wall had encroached on the foreshore.

Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan reached out to new area councillor Darren Taylor after residents contacted her about their concerns.

The community group has spoken to previous councillors for the division after becoming aware several years ago that the land title appeared to extend further than for other beachfront property owners.

“It’s been very unpleasant. I think the whole thing is very controversial and very complex,” Ms Donovan said.

An artist impression of the Oceanway.

“There’s nothing else like it in the area. Everything else is set back (from the foreshore and A-line boulder wall). The problem is it’s preventing access to the path on the area that is public land.

Councillor Taylor told the Bulletin: “I’ve spoken to the council officers. The officers are dealing with the owners. Our plan for that section of foreshore is a northern deck which will be extended there.”

‘Disastrous’: Oceanway slammed by worried residents

June 6: Work has begun on the $6.1 million Surfers South Oceanway but residents predict it will be an environmental disaster after designs show most of it cannot be protected from big seas — leading to potentially millions of dollars in repairs.

The Bulletin has obtained a letter to Mayor Tom Tate from the Surfers Beachfront Protection Association where residents raise “serious matters” after finding final drawings of the pathway.

Work has started on the Surfers Paradise South Oceanway.

Residents remind council that the A-line marks the storm surge height and defines the alignment for seawalls – it is accepted as “the last line of defence” for properties.

In the letter the Mayor, an SBPA spokesperson wrote: “The final drawings of the Surfers South Oceanway show more than 90 per cent of the concrete pathway will be built east of the A-line.

“These plans are in blatant contradiction to the advice provided to councillors – in the 2019 report – and the assurances sought by yourself.”

Residents were “greatly concerned” given council’s longstanding commitment to maintaining the integrity of the A-line — a rock wall in the dunes where the city has been reluctant to build on top or in front of the barrier.

Detailed design for the Surfers Paradise South Oceanway. The blue line is the A-line wall, the rock boulder buffer which protects properties. The Oceanway will be built to the east.

They understand the mayor and councillors when backing the construction of the Oceanway on sand dunes were not told most of the path would be located east of the boulder wall.

“I fear this will have disastrous impacts on coastal erosion and put people and property at risk,” the SBPA spokesperson said.

“We also know it will have broader environmental impacts on dune vegetation, ghost crab habitats and nesting loggerhead turtles such as the hatching at Main Beach last month.”

In the recent court case between residents and council, it was established the Oceanway would be “sacrificial”

Residents now believe the $6.1 million funding amount on the new beach infrastructure does not show its true cost.

The SBPA spokesperson said real safety and liability concerns could arise from any failure of the pathway given each slab was 6.5 tonnes in weight.

“Does council now accept that the cost of this sacrificial infrastructure will be far in excess of other sections of the Oceanway,” the spokesperson said.

Designs for the Surfers south Oceanway.

Mayor Tate and the council did not respond to the letter because the city, at the time, was in a legal dispute with the Association. He again declined on Monday when asked to comment.

Lawyers for council, in a previous response to the Association, wrote: “We are instructed to acknowledge the correspondence and request that you pass on that a substantive response would not be appropriate given the current proceedings in the Court of Appeal.”

A city spokesperson confirmed construction of the Surfers South Oceanway was underway, and involved earthworks followed by path and lighting installation, then landscaping and rehabilitation.

“Work is being carried out in sections. The first section is between First Ave at Broadbeach and Aubrey Street at Surfers Paradise,” the spokesperson said.

Designs released for the first time showing the Surfers South Oceanway near Northcliffe Surf Club.

Asked why the work had begun during a legal battle, the spokesman replied: “Works are being carried out lawfully in accordance with a development approval.

“The Surfers Paradise Beachfront Protection Association was unsuccessful in its challenge of the approval in the Planning and Environment Court. The Association applied to the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal but are not proceeding with that further challenge.”

Residents in each section of work are notified before works start. Fencing, signage and traffic control is also in place.

The 36km planned Oceanway is to be built in sections (see fact file below) but faces more potential legal challenges, particularly at Mermaid Beach where top businessman Mick Power has flagged he would help fund a battle.

Gold Coast Oceanway – the sections built and those planned as future upgrades.

OCEANWAY FACTS

* 36km network of shared cycle and pedestrian paths from Main Beach to the border.

* Tugun to Bilinga was completed in 2018 and had a lighting upgrade two years later.

* other sections at various stages of development due to funding, location challenges and potential residential backlash.

* current projects include Surfers South, Palm Beach North and Main Beach South.

* further planned sections are at Currumbin, Main Beach North, Mermaid Beach, Palm Beach South and Tugun.

Gold Coast Oceanway – the sections built and those planned as future upgrades.

* Surfers South will be a 1.6km long four metre wide path. Extras include beach showers, bike racks, seating and water bubblers.

* construction will be in stages, due to finish in December. Work is from 6am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

* some dune vegetation will be removed then areas later revegetated.