Historic trees hang in the balance as community protest outside Burnham Beeches
CELEBRITY chef Shannon Bennett and a developer partner are trying to cull several historic trees on a historic Sherbrooke estate slated for his $40 million gastronomic resort — and locals are furious.
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CELEBRITY chef Shannon Bennett and a developer partner are trying to cull several historic trees on the Sherbrooke site slated for his $40 million gastronomic resort — and locals are furious.
Almost 100 protesters rallied outside Burnham Beeches recently opposing he pair’s controversial plans to cut down between 10 and 13 beech trees — synonymous with the hills estate.
Meanwhile, State Planning Minister Richard Wynne is set to soon make a decision about Bennett’s controversial $40 million plan to transform Burnham Beeches into a sweeping drawcard for foodie tourists.
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The resort plans would see the significant trees — put on the National Trust Register in 2013 — culled to improve traffic to flow to the property.
But members of the Burnham Beeches Development Community Watch on Facebook want to make sure Mr Wynne does not sign off on the amendment until further investigations have been done to see if there is any other way of retaining the trees. A petition with more than 1700 signatures will go to Mr Wynne’s office.
Lost Dandenongs Facebook page member Kerry Lyn said Bennett and Mr Garrison needed to leave the trees alone.
“As a child that grew up there in 60s, that is the place that always makes my memories of home,” she said.
A State Government spokesman, who did not want to be named, said a proposal on Burnham Beeches was being considered and a decision would be made in “due course”.
They would not say exactly when a decision would be made.
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