Anger over developer’s plan to build $10 million mansion on illegally cleared land

A property developer who illegally felled hundreds of native trees has submitted new plans to build a $10 million luxury mansion in Sydney’s south and cut down even more vegetation, despite being ordered to remediate environmentally friendly land.

Amir Abu Abara, owner of the 7.4 hectare property in Baden Ridge, was fined $70,000 in July after Sutherland Shire Council agreed to drop a two-year legal case against the businessman.

In August, the ABC revealed that Mr Abara had illegally cut down hundreds of native trees without development approval to build a $3 million luxury six-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion on the Woronora River.

As part of the mandatory undertaking signed, the 40-year-old agreed to restore the land to the condition it was in before the illegal clearing took place. This includes replanting a mix of 38,700 plants, including 600 native trees.

But in early March, Abara filed a new development application to build a mansion, pool and road access worth an estimated $9,853,863.

The development application contains the same architectural drawings and concept design as the application submitted in 2023 and originally rejected.

It features the same ten-pin bowling alley, indoor basketball court, gym with sauna, infinity pool, movie theater, prayer room, man cave, library, and underground parking with six parking spaces.

But the proposal also includes plans to cut down an additional 23 trees to create a 160m-long driveway leading to the mansion.

The community is “angry, sad and very frustrated.”

An environmental report found Mr Abara’s property is located on environmentally sensitive land and is home to endangered species such as koalas and powerful owls.

Woronora River Community Association secretary Iris Freeman said the community was “angry, saddened and extremely frustrated” that the landowner was working on a new development application rather than restoring vegetation.

“By allowing this, you’re setting a precedent. We’re going to see more of this in the future.”

Abara did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.

He previously submitted an apology to the court as part of an enforceable undertaking he signed, acknowledging his actions were “wrong and I sincerely apologize” and saying he hoped “I can undo the pain I have caused”. [to] community”.

Council to evaluate the application

Sutherland Shire Council said in a statement that it had no powers to “prevent property owners from submitting development applications on their land” and that applications would be assessed on their merits.

But the council added it was “deeply committed” to holding landowners to account for recent failures to comply with legally enforceable terms and conditions set out in the works.

“Any proposed development of this site is, of course, conditional on the property owner being able to meet the terms of a vegetation management plan that will force the reforestation of areas where illegal logging has taken place,” the council said.

Sutherland Shire Council fined Abara $30,000 in February after finding he had failed to comply with mandatory sediment and erosion control measures he had agreed to complete as part of a vegetation management plan.

A further $45,000 penalty notice was issued in late March after the council said Mr Abbala had “continued to neglect remedial works to protect the nearby Woronora River”.

According to the mandatory initiative, the reforestation work is to be completed within 18 months from July 2025.

Freeman said Abara had no intention of giving up on his mansion ambitions, even though he racked up $145,000 in fines.

“We have been told that [the fine] That’s the best result you can achieve from this. If so, the system is clearly not fit for purpose,” she said.

“Given what we’ve seen so far, this will be an acceptable business model.”

Mr Abara is a listed director of at least 15 companies, including two housebuilding companies, according to ASIC research.

The new development application was submitted under the name Sitaco Developments Pty Ltd, a company owned by Millard Joseph Said.

Mr. Saeed is the listing supervisor for one of Mr. Abara’s house construction companies, Abara Group Pte Ltd.

Sitako Developments, which shares the same address as Avara Group in Condell Park, south-west Sydney, was also contacted for comment.