Aussie star Nicole Kidman’s move to Portugal could anger local residents

Australian actress Nicole Kidman’s reported interest in buying property at a luxury European resort could cause more local anger.

Residents and some tourists claim a new development at the famous CostaTerra Golf & Ocean Club is destroying the beachfront area of Portugal.

Babygirl star Kidman has applied for a residence permit to the country’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, local media reported on July 22.

“The Australian actress has been in Lisbon since Sunday after landing at Tires airfield in Cascais,” Portuguese media outlet SIC Notícias said.

It claimed the reason for the visit to Portugal was related to the purchase of a home in the luxury CostaTerra Golf & Ocean Club.

The private golf club is part of a luxury residential development by Discovery Land Company.

The 310ha property will consist of a golf course, beach club, spa and dining.

It is also set to have 300 homes, with prices starting at $7.4 million.

The area is known as “The Hamptons of Portugal” thanks to its celebrity visitors, including Hollywood actor George Clooney who has reportedly shopped for homes in the area.

The Hamptons is a seaside resort in the US popular with the rich and famous.

Last year, The Mirror reported Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also looking to purchase a property at CostaTerra Golf & Ocean Club.

The Daily Express revealed while the private resort is a favourite among the wealthier visitors to Portugal, locals and visitors have vented their frustration about changes to the area as a result of the new development.

The resort’s Google reviews have been flooded with angry comments.

“Costa Terra: a private playground for millionaires who arrive by helicopter, dine with private chefs and bulldoze everything that made this coast real,” one person commented.

“Public beaches? Locked down. Protected land? Flattened for golf courses. Local communities? Pushed aside and priced out. ‘Eco-luxury’? A cruel joke dressed up in greenwash.”

“It’s just terrible, they destroyed this beautiful place trying to privatise the area and then ... nothing ... At least give us the camping back, there’s space for everyone,” another said.

“Worst decision ever to build this. I used to visit the beach here, now they have blocked the access.”

When news broke about Kidman submitting her paperwork to the country’s immigration agency, reports revealed her husband Keith Urban’s name was not on the application.

However, The New York Post understands the country music star was not mentioned in any paperwork because he was unable to break away from touring at the time.