Australian developer who illegally cleared hundreds of native trees seeks approval for a $9.85 million Sydney mansion with a bowling alley, infinity pool and underground car park

An Australian property developer who illegally cut down hundreds of native trees in Sydney has submitted a fresh application to build a mansion worth nearly $10 million on the same property. Amir Abu Abara owns a 7.4-hectare site in Barden Ridge, where he previously cleared vegetation without development approval to make way for a $3 million mansion.He was fined $70,000 after Sutherland Shire Council agreed to drop a two-year court case in July 2025. The developer had also agreed to restore the environmentally sensitive land by replanting thousands of plants, including native trees. According to ABC News, his latest application includes plans for another mansion, a swimming pool and road access, while proposing further tree removal.New $9.85 million mansion plan includes bowling alley and underground car parkIn early March 2026, Abu Abara lodged a new development application for a mansion, swimming pool and road access at his Barden Ridge property. The proposed development has an estimated value of $9,853,863. Its architectural drawings and concept design are the same as those included in an earlier application submitted in 2023, which was rejected.The plans include several luxury facilities inside the proposed property. These are a tenpin bowling alley, an indoor basketball court, a gym with a sauna, an infinity pool and a movie theatre. The design also features a prayer room, a man-cave, a library and an underground car park with six spaces. The proposal includes a 160-metre-long driveway that would require the removal of 23 additional trees.What environmental concerns have residents raised over the mansion proposalThe proposed development has drawn criticism from residents nearby. Iris Freeman, secretary of the Woronora River Community Association, said residents were “angry, sad and very frustrated” that Abu Abara was preparing another application instead of restoring the cleared vegetation.She said, "Is that not just a slap in the face, and that really is a complete disregard for the environment and for the law.”An environmental report found that the property was on environmentally sensitive land and was home to threatened species, including koalas and powerful owls.Abu Abara agrees to restore vegetation after unauthorised tree clearingThe earlier unauthorised clearing was carried out to make way for a six-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion valued at $3 million for Abu Abara and his wife, Caroline Abara. As part of a signed enforceable undertaking, the developer agreed to return the land to the condition it was in before the clearing.The restoration plan requires the planting of 38,700 plants, including 600 native trees. The work is to be completed within 18 months of July 2025. Abu Abara also submitted an apology to the court as part of the undertaking. He accepted that his conduct was wrong, apologised and said he hoped to undo the distress caused to the community. The undertaking also set out the conditions for restoring the site.What role does the vegetation management plan play in the mansion applicationSutherland Shire Council said it could not prevent a property owner from submitting a development application for land they own. It said the new proposal would be assessed on its merits. The council also said any development would depend on the owner meeting the vegetation management plan's requirements, including replanting the area affected by the illegal clearing.The council had issued Abu Abara a $30,000 fine in February after finding that he had failed to complete agreed sediment and erosion control measures. In late March, it issued a further $45,000 penalty notice over what it described as his continued failure to carry out remediation work to protect the nearby Woronora River.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.