Turbulence for tycoon John Gandel as home helipad plan sparks fury

One of Australia’s richest families is trying to fly its helicopter into its exclusive Mornington Peninsula estate despite a storm of protest from neighbours.

John and Pauline Gandel.

Of Australia’s richest families is trying to fly its helicopter into its exclusive Mornington Peninsula estate despite angry objections from neighbours.

A storm of protest has greeted rich-lister John Gandel’s bid to have a helipad at his multimillion-dollar Point Leo Estate.

Retail king Gandel, the 84-year-old owner of Chadstone shopping centre, was today named by The Australian’s rich list as Victoria’s second-most wealthy person, with a net worth of $6.22 billion. But all the money in the world hasn’t stopped locals from opposing the billionaire’s proposed helipad landing-site application.

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The application was lodged with Mornington Peninsula Shire council earlier this month. Planning services exec David Bergin told Page 13 more than 70 objections were filed by this week’s cut-off.

“It is likely a decision will not be made until June at council’s Planning Services Committee,” he said.

Mr Gandel wants twin-engine Eurocopter choppers able to fly in and out of the Point Leo Estate winery and sculpture park.

This is not the first time wealthy families have tried to get landing rights for their choppers.

Self-described “up-market trucker” Lindsay Fox, who is Victoria’s third richest person with a net worth of $3.5 billion, fought his neighbours and the shire for permission to land at his clifftop Portsea estate. Years of battles ended and a line in the shifting sands saw Fox claim victory in 2003.

Page 13 got wind of Gandel’s helicopter landing-site application, which wants twin-engine Eurocopter choppers able to fly in and out of the winery and sculpture park.

“The landing site is proposed to be used for up to 12 operations a day, comprising 12 landings and 12 takeoffs in a calendar month and on an as-needs basis,” the application states. “Therefore as a worst-case scenario, all movements may occur in one day …”

When Page 13 called, a spokeswoman for the notorious media-shy Gandel gave the predictable “no comment”.

Locals say Point Leo Estate is full of wildlife and have appealed to Mr Gandel to ’think of the birds’.

HOW’S THE SERENITY?

Point Leo’s “unofficial mayor” Murray Turner says the flight plan and proposal will ruin locals’ idyllic lifestyle.

Turner along with other locals has formed an action group and appealed to Gandel to “think of the birds”.

Speaking from his backyard porch, where he has recorded 57 registered species of birds amid the sound of yellow-tailed cockatoos nattering to each other, Turner told Page 13 Gandel’s proposal was a stinker.

“We don’t see a lot of Mr Gandel down here,” Turner said.

“But the locals enjoy the serenity that’s here,” he said sounding like a Darryl Kerrigan from The Castle.

“That’s trees, the wildlife, the microbats, the yellowtail cockatoos, the hooded plover. It’s not helicopters.”

A much-loved local sea eagle who nests in the area has become a Point Leo mascot to many and will be at risk if a helicopter flies in and out of the estate so “rich people can have an expensive glass of wine”.

“It’s like our last little private Idaho, but of very important environmental significance,” Turner said.

The Gandel application, which states “the proposal will not impact any native vegetation on the land or surrounds” is full of lawyer-speak and gobbeldegook, Turner says.

Turner says “for the average Aussie guy, which is me, I look at the application and go: ‘Gosh, there is a lot of fine print in there’.

“It’s a lawyers’ picnic when it comes to trying to understand (it).”

John and Pauline Gandel.

‘IT’S HARDLY SLUMMING IT’

Spread over 135ha, 20ha of which are under vines, Point Leo Estate has been in the Gandel family for more than 25 years. A 90-minute drive from Melbourne airport or, as the locals say, just 20 minutes from Tyabb airfield.

“Why not share the love?” Turner said. “They could run a limousine service from there and employ more people from the local community.”

The property was used as a private escape for Gandel, his wife Pauline, their four children and a large band of grandchildren. But in October 2017, the family opened the private estate to the public.

Another local who wishes not to be named told Page 13 it’s not like patrons “are slumming it” by “getting in their luxury cars and driving one hour from Toorak”.

Turner said the boom in industry from Point Leo Estate to the locals was not overlooked, it’s just they don’t want the noise.

He says he is quietly confident the proposal won’t go ahead, but if it does the group will take their fight to VCAT.

Tell him he’s dreamin’.

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