By Peter Douglas and Derek Schlennstedt
Yarra Ranges Council will refer to an independent planning panel all submissions responding to the proposed Burnham Beeches development.
At its 26 September meeting, council passed a recommendation to refer the process to a panel, which will consider more than 90 submissions after the proposal for the historic site was first exhibited in 2016.
The Burnham Beeches planning permit seeks the use and development of a residential hotel, additional restaurant in the piggery building, a brewery with food and drink areas, shop with food and drink areas, two small staff accommodation buildings, intersection works at the Sherbrooke Road entrance and vegetation removal.
Submissions have been received from Parks Victoria, which manages the adjacent Alfred Nichols Garden and which has expressed strong support for the proposal.
But the majority of the submissions have been critical, citing the effect on safety in the event of a bushfire, inadequate response to heritage values, traffic and parking concerns, and environmental and landscape impacts.
Speaking at the council meeting, co-developer Adam Garrison said he and business partner, celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, have worked long and hard on the proposal.
“I know there is a small minority who’ve still got some concerns, we’ve worked very hard to deal with as many issues as we can,” he said.
“We’ve very diligently spent a lot of time and a lot of money to work with a lot of consultants and work closely with council to address concerns.”
Mr Garrison maintained it was passion, not profit, which is driving the proposal.
“Shannon and I are extremely passionate about the project. To be perfectly frank, if we wanted to really get in and make money … it would’ve been very easy to do something in the city, build two or three buildings and move on.
“I’ve got a background of dealing very sensitively with heritage buildings. Shannon is very good at hospitality.
“My concern is if we can’t get his last shot up and running, and we walk away … then I really hate to think about what will happen.”
Mr Garrison said the site was subject to constant vandalism.
“We’ve got vandals coming in all the time. Several times a week, the bakers have to go down in the middle of the night to try to get rid of people. We’ve got alarms going off in the middle of the night.
“If someone leaves it open, there is a risk of fires and other damage to the building, which would leave it irreparable.”
He added the site has been zoned tourism for over 35 years and needed a viable business model.
Councillors Mike Clarke and Jim Child supported the move towards an independent panel, with Cr Child saying it will result in “some solid recommendations”.
Cr Clarke viewed the move as being the only way forward for the project, while Cr Tim Heenan opposed the decision.
Subsequent to the move, submitters will be invited to be heard at the in-person planning pane.
Council Director of Social and Economic Development, Ali Wastie, said there were numerous unresolved submissions from the community and agencies in relation to the amendment and draft permit, including fire risk, traffic and parking, tree and landscape impacts.
“Council had three options – to change the amendment to reflect what has been requested in the submissions, refer submissions to a planning panel or to abandon part or all of the amendment,” Ms Wastie said.
“It is recommended that the most appropriate course of action is to request that the minister for planning appoint an independent planning panel.”
The Burnham Beeches redevelopment reached exhibition stage in 2016, after developers scrapped plans for 80 villas to be constructed on the site.
