Federal Court declares 21st Century land banking schemes unlawful

Federal Court declares 21st Century land banking schemes unlawful
Staff reporterDecember 7, 2020

The Federal Court has declared that land banking developments operated by Jamie and Dennis McIntyre were unregistered managed investment schemes in a decision delivered by His Honour Justice Bromwich on 17 October 2016.

The Court also made orders that Jamie and Dennis McIntyre be disqualified from managing corporations and restrained from carrying on financial services for a period of 10 years each, due to them being officers of companies that had failed, by virtue of them being wound up, and which had also repeatedly contravened the Corporations Act .

Jamie and Dennis McIntyre agreed to the banning orders made against them.

Further, the Court made orders to wind up the unregistered managed investment schemes, which were promoted and advertised by the 21st Century land banking companies.

The unregistered managed investment schemes are known as:

  • Botanica, located at 805 Archer Rd, Kialla, Victoria 3631
  • Secret Valley Estate, located at  955, Old Sydney Road, Bylands, Victoria 3762
  • Oak Valley Lakes Estate & Resort, located at 124 Booth Road, Brookhill, Townsville, Qld 4816
  • Bendigo Vineyard Estate & Resort, located at  51 Andrews Road, Bendigo, Victoria 3551
  • Melbourne Grove Estate, located at  1491 Dohertys Road, Mount Cottrell, Victoria 3024

Simon Wallace-Smith and Robert Woods of Deloitte have been appointed as joint liquidators of the unregistered managed investment schemes.

ASIC Commissioner Greg Tanzer said, "The high banning periods ordered by the Court in this case are necessary to protect the public from those who are officers of companies that repeatedly contravene the Corporations Act.  It also serves as a warning to those involved in unlawful unregistered managed investment schemes, including those that involve land banking, that ASIC will take action."

ASIC's investigation into the matter is ongoing.

ASIC commenced proceedings in August 2015 against Jamie and Dennis McIntyre and the 21st Century land banking companies in relation to their promotion and sale of interests to investors in five land banking schemes.

ASIC’s proceedings are part of ASIC's wider and ongoing investigation into land banking schemes.

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