A developer from China has stirred up a hornet’s nest on Keswick Island in Australia, for allegedly demanding that the locals move out within three days to make way for its tourism plans.

Keswick residents were planning to protest against the company China Bloom, which last year signed a 99-year lease with the Queensland government to rent a portion of the island for about US$20 million. The developer’s intention was to build a resort that would accommodate around 3,000 tourists.

The island, situated 34 kilometers northeast of the Australian state of Queensland, is known for picturesque beaches and a wide variety of wildlife. It has 530 hectares of land, 400 hectares of which have been designated as a national forest and park. China Bloom’s lease covers 117 hectares.

Islanders find they are being stopped from setting foot in certain places as the company has blocked roads connecting the beach and the national park, and has banned boats and planes from accessing Keswick.

A couple who had lived there for six years were said to have been given just three days by the company in February to vacate their rental property.

In another dispute, the locals recently alleged that their community Christmas tree had been intentionally cut down, Australian media reported. China Bloom issued a statement refuting the claim, saying the story had been fabricated.

Meanwhile, islanders are mobilizing fellow locals for a large barbeque gathering at a public area, to protest against China Bloom and the Queensland government. About 17,000 people have signed an online petition to show concern over the incident.

As well, the state government is facing calls to facilitate better communication with the developer.

China Bloom issued a statement on Monday, saying that the changes it introduced were designed to ensure compliance with regulations. The company claimed it was working to increase visits to the island and easy accessibility for locals, but that objections from some quarters had slowed down construction progress.

Former member of parliament Jason Costigan criticised the state government for ignoring the local people’s interests.

“This is the Whitsundays, not Wuhan,” he said. “We do need Chinese investment to fire up the economy, but a Chinese takeover or any foreign takeover is absolute rot. It’s not in the public interest.”

In fact, hefty Chinese investments have made Australians more wary about China in recent years.

The Covid-19 pandemic and recent trade disputes between the two countries had led some Australians to rethink whether they needed to keep caving in to China as they had done in the past few years to secure Chinese capital, said Johnny, an immigrant from Hong Kong.

Johnny told Apple Daily that his Australia-born friends were disgusted with China when they realized students from the mainland were making use of social media to promote patriotism or criticize teachers who spoke adversely about China.

Those mainland Chinese people used the freedom of speech they enjoyed in Australia to subvert Australian core values, Johnny said.

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