Chinese businessman Tom Zhou’s links with a proposed luxury hotel resort development at Murrindindi came under the national media spotlight at the weekend.

Channel 9’s 60 Minutes program, and its Fairfax Newspapers division, carried reports from investigative reporters Nick McKenzie, Nick Toscano and Grace Tobin.

The reports quizzed Mr Zhou’s links with Crown Casino, and his purchase for $7.5 million of the ‘Balaclava’ property at Murrindindi. The 827-hectare property was advertised for sale, in 10 titles, in 2015-16.

Mr Zhou is reported to have brought Chinese tourists to the Murrindindi property for hunting expeditions.

Local residents believed that there was insufficient information about the planned resort. The Local Paper has reported on the proposed development in previous years.

The Balaclava property has a rich history. It was once the property of the late Victoria Police surgeon, Dr John Birrell.

In 2015-16, there were two homes advertised on the Balaclava property, alongside the Murrindindi River, Balaclava Creek, with 34 dams on the property.

The Nine group reporters allege that Mr Zhou is wanted by Interpol. They link him as a “junket partner” of Crown, with involvement with the Casino group’s high rollers.

An Elders video, promoted ‘Balaclava’ for sale, from 2015:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5w3-Rp2yvE