Fragrance Group owner planning to build island hideaway

THE billionaire Singaporean property developer behind some of Hobart’s most audacious hotel proposals is planning to build a mansion on an island off the sleepy seaside village of Dunalley.

Fulham Island, just off Dunalley, is owned by the Fragrance group. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

THE billionaire Singaporean property developer behind some of Hobart’s most audacious hotel proposals is planning to build a mansion on an island off the sleepy seaside village of Dunalley.

Wee Meng ‘James’ Koh bought Fulham Island for just under $1 million in 2014.

The 10-hectare island is currently home only to seabirds.

Mr Koh is currently building a large jetty and boat ramp on the island.

The Mercury understands Mr Koh has also drawn up plans for a substantial dwelling on the island but has yet to lodge them with the council.

A spokesman for Fragrance group was unable to comment on the plans or put the Mercury in touch with Mr Koh.

“I understand that this is a private matter for Mr Koh and not a Fragrance concern and as such, I have no information,” he said.

Fulham Island, just off Dunalley, is owned by the Fragrance group. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent said he had not yet seen the plans, but building on the island would be require a carefully considered application.

“There would be a lot of environmental issues, mutton birds and other birds are nesting out there and can’t be interfered with,” he said.

“There would also be sewerage and other environmental requirements.

“I dare say if you have the money to buy an island, you would have the money to meet the environmental requirements as well.”

Mr Vincent was one of six councillors who voted to pass the jetty proposal. Three opposed the plans.

Mr Koh’s Fragrance Group controversially proposed a 200m 424-room skyscraper hotel on the Hobart waterfront — although that plan has now been shelved.

The company has applied to build 12- and 13-storey towers in Elizabeth Street in North Hobart, one housing a 214-room hotel and the other 91 apartments.

Three levels of underground parking for nearly 200 cars is also included, along with a restaurant and function rooms.

And it has also lodged an application for a $60m 256-room hotel with an 800-seat conference room in Collins Street.

Sorell with Mayor Kerry Vincent gave a press conference with opposition leader Rebecca White. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Amateur ornithologist Els Wakefield, took Mr Koh and his company JK Island Pty Ltd to the state’s planning tribunal last year and said she would fight plans for a building on the island.

“We couldn’t stop him from putting the jetty up,” she said.

“If he does want to put in an application to put a building on the island he has to go through council again.

“If any building proposals come forward I’d expect other people to come forward to oppose it in the courts.”

MORE:

HUNDREDS OBJECT TO FRAGRANCE TOWERS

SHORTER FRAGRANCE STILL FACES A HEFTY FIGHT

TRUST DEFENDS TRUMP TOWER MOCK-UP

She there were very many seabirds on the island, which were protected by international treaties including short tailed shearwaters, little penguins, pacific, kelp and silver gulls, pied oyster catchers, brown quail, caspian terns as well as rare and listed flora species.

“To put a building on a very sandy substructure on top of all those breeding colonies would be unbelievable,” said Ms Wakefield.