THE NSW Department of Planning has threatened legal action against Australia China Theme Park after the department’s logo was used on a social media platform that linked Chinese investment with Australian visa applications.
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The department issued a cease and desist letter to theme park chief executive officer and director, Bruce Zhong, on Friday, within hours of a Newcastle Herald article showing the logo on the Chinese WeChat social media platform.
The WeChat promotion said a $1million investment in the theme park would secure an Australian visa ‘‘for your whole family’’, and the theme park had been approved ‘‘from the highest level of Australian government’’.
On May 25 the Department of Planning issued a gateway determination that severely restricted Wyong Shire Council’s rezoning plans for a 15.7hectare Warnervale site earmarked for the theme park.
Department director of legal services Natasha Highman ordered Mr Zhong to immediately remove the unauthorised logo, remove any material published on the internet containing the logo, cease distributing any material containing the logo, and advise the department by close of business that the company had complied with the orders.
‘‘The Department takes this matter very seriously and will consider further steps should you fail to do any of the above,’’ Ms Highman wrote.
Mr Zhong did not respond to phone messages.
