Construction of a seawall at Olivers Hill on public land continues
The owner of a Frankston South mansion is continuing to oversee the building of an illegal seawall on the beach in front of his property, telling authorities he’s prepared to fight them in court.
South East
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The owner of a beachfront mansion is defying a stop work order and continuing to oversee the building of a seawall on a Frankston South beach in front of his $9.25m home.
Businessman Gene Neill, who has acknowledged he does not have a permit for the work, told Frankston Council in March that he would halt construction and reinstate the beach after locals branded it “environmental vandalism”.
However the work has continued and the wall now appears to be about 1.5m tall.
Mr Neill told the ABC he wasn’t taking the wall down and challenged the state government or Frankston Council to take legal action.
“I want them to bring it on,” he told the broadcaster.
“I’ve got the money.”
Record show Mr Neill bought the property last December.
He previously described the retaining wall as “emergency works” needed to protect his home after he was denied insurance.
Mr Neill feared his house and others along the cliffs were at risk of being damaged by landslides, similar to one that destroyed a mansion in McCrae on the Mornington Peninsula.
The January 14 incident saw 19 properties evacuated and some property owners are still locked out of their houses six months on.
Frankston Council, which manages the land in front of Mr Neill’s property, issued a stop work order on March 3.
“All works and structures undertaken on coastal and marine public (Crown) land require consent from the State Government, as well as planning and building permits where required,” chief executive Phil Cantillon said.
“If the stop work order is breached, Council will be forced to consider further action which may include prosecution.”
The council will consider further enforcement action at a meeting on Monday night.
The discussion will be held behind closed doors.