samantha in the press

Celebrity chef Shannon Bennett won’t back down from the Burnham Beeches plan he’s served up
Free Press Leader
by Therese Allaoui
12 Sep 2014         

Input on café still off the table
Free Press Leader
by Therese Allaoui
10 Sep 2014

samantha in the press

Yarra Ranges Council needs $3m to get services into building “fit for purpose”
Free Press Leader
by Therese Allaoui
3 Sep 2014

Council calls the shots
Mail Newspapers
by Marc McGowan
2 Sep 2014

 

Lifeline for hub

Mail Newspapers

by Jesse Graham

2 Sep 2014



 

samantha in the press

In response to this article:

The owners of Burnham Beeches have asked the Minister for Planning to determine a Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) for their site.

 

It is up to the Minister to decide if the community will be consulted, not councillors, not council officers, not Burnham Beeches owners (unless the owners ask the Minister to do so and  at any rate it's still the Minister's call). It is also up to the Minister to determine if he makes a decision or asks council for a decision on the PSA.

 

The owners of Burnham Beeches have been in talks with Yarra Ranges Council for approximately 2 years, in this time they have been encouraged by council officers to lodge a Planning Scheme Amendment with council, the owners have chosen to go directly to the Minister and not to council.

 

What will be interesting in all of this is what the Minister will do, given it is very close to a state election in Victoria. I can only hope that the community does get to have a say, consultation is an important part of the planning process. Given it's a tight contest in the seat of Monbulk I wonder what all the candidates for Monbulk think?

It is an exciting time for Burnham Beeches, it's a much loved site and it's terrific to see it being used again, but I also think the community has a right to be consulted.

 
Tourism feast
FTG Mail Newspaper
by Marc McGowan
26 Aug 2014

 

samantha in the press

Yarra Ranges councillor says she was left in dark by application from Burnham Beeches in Sherbrooke for extra guest capacity
Lilydale Leader
by Therese Allaoui
21 Aug 2014

note: to date Yarra Ranges Council still hasn't heard back from the Minister for Planning or his department on what he intends to do regarding the planning scheme amendment request.

samantha in the press

Yarra Ranges Council bypassed on massive Burnham Beeches expansion plan
Free Press Leader
by Therese Allaoui
7 Aug 2014

amendment request for burnham beeches

Earlier this month council was advised that Burnham Beeches have written to the Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, seeking a Ministerial Amendment to the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme to allow for up to 1,700 people on the Burnham Beeches site.

Uses requested for inclusion in the amendment include a Micro Brewery, Hotel, Steak House, Bakery, Hotel, Villas, Eco Pods, tea house, moonlight cinema, spa, wellness centre, chapel, etc.

Currently the site is zoned Special Use (schedule 2, clause 2.9) and includes a Heritage Overlay (HO5).

It’s not clear if the Minister will be seeking Council’s or community views on the amendment request, which will be numbered C142. Our planning team are currently seeking advice as to how the Department for Planning (DTPLI) propose to engage with the Council and community on this development.

I’ll keep you posted as we learn more. As this is a recent request the amendment is not yet available to view online.