A property developer who illegally cut down hundreds of trees has launched a new plan to build a $10 million luxury complex in Sydney’s south and clear more vegetation, despite being ordered to remediate the environmentally unfriendly land.
Amir Abu Abara, the owner of a 7.4 hectare site in Barden Ridge, was fined $70,000 after Sutherland Shire Council agreed to drop a two-year court case against the businessman in July.
The ABC revealed in August that Mr Abara illegally cut down hundreds of trees to make way for a $3 million, six-bedroom, eight-bathroom luxury home for himself and his wife, Caroline Abara, near the Woronora River, without a development permit.
As part of the signed commitment, the 40-year-old agreed to restore the site where it was previously cleared without permission, which would include replanting a mix of 38,700 plants, including 600 native trees.
The development application filed in 2023 was for a $3 million luxury building in the neo-classical style. (Source: Application Development)
But in early March, Mr. Abara filed a new development application to build a mansion, pool and driveway, worth an estimated $9,853,863.
The development application includes the same architectural drawings and concept plan as the first rejected application, which was submitted in 2023.
It has a one-pin tenpin bowling alley, an indoor basketball court, a gym with a sauna, an infinity pool, a movie theater, a prayer room, a man cave, a library, and an underground parking lot with six spaces.
But this time, the proposal also includes a plan to cut down 23 more trees to build a 160-meter-long road to the mansion.
The public is ‘angry, sad and very confused’
An environmental report found that Mr. Abara’s property was located in an environmentally sensitive area and was home to endangered animals such as koalas and barn owls.
Secretary of the Woronora River Community Association, Iris Freeman, said the community was “angry, sad and very frustrated” that the landowner was working on a new development application, instead of restoring the vegetation.
“Isn’t that just a slap in the face, and that is a complete disregard for the environment and the law,”
Mrs. Freeman said.
“Allowing this to continue now is a precedent; we will see more of this.”
Projects include a tenpin bowling alley, an indoor basketball court, and an infinity pool. (Source: Application Development)
Mr Abara was contacted for comment, but did not respond before deadline.
He previously apologized to the court as part of a signed commitment, admitting his behavior “was wrong and I sincerely apologize”, and that he hoped he could “change the suffering caused. [to] community”.
Mr Abara was fined $70,000 for logging at Barden Ridge. (ABC News: Timothy Ailwood)
Court to review the application
In a statement, Sutherland Shire Council said it had no power to “prevent a property owner from submitting an application to develop land it owns” and that it would assess the application on its merits.
But the court added that it was “seriously committed” to holding the landowner accountable for recent failures to comply with the conditions set out in the applicable plan.
“Any plans to develop this culture, of course, will depend on the owner of the plot to satisfy the terms of the vegetation management plan, which obligates them to plant the area where the illegal clearing is,” said the council.
The replanting works must be completed within 18 months of July 2025. (ABC News: Timothy Ailwood)
Sutherland Shire Council fined Mr Abara $30,000 in February after finding he had failed to comply with required erosion control measures he agreed to carry out as part of a vegetation management scheme.
Another $45,000 penalty notice was issued in late March for what the court described as Mr Abara’s “continued failure to carry out remedial works to protect the nearby Woronora River”.
According to the pledge, the replanting works must be completed within 18 months of July 2025.
Iris Freeman says the project is a “slap in the face”. (ABC News: Timothy Ailwood)
Ms Freeman said that, although Mr Abara collected $145,000 in fines, he showed no sign of giving up his big ambitions.
“We have been told that this [the fine] is the best result that can be achieved from this. Well, if that is the case, the system is clearly not fit for purpose,” he said.
“The way this happened will lead to this becoming an acceptable business practice.”
According to ASIC’s investigation, Mr Abara was a listed director of at least 15 businesses, including two housing companies.
A new development application has been lodged under the company name Sitaco Developments Pty Ltd, owned by Millard Joseph Said.
Mr. Said is the director of one of Mr. Abara’s house building companies, Abara Group Pty Ltd.
Sitaco Developments, which also shares a business address with the Abara Group in Condell Park, in Sydney’s south-west, was contacted for comment.
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