Ferntree Gully
Belgrave
Mail Covering the Dandenongs in the Yarra Ranges & Cardinia Shires
Century for dad
28 Tuesday, 22 November, 2016
5
Stop-start project
A Mail News Group publication
Sustainable school
7
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
New look at traders group THE Belgrave Traders Association has unveiled its new committee. With a combination of fresh faces and new ideas, the members believe they are in a great spot to propel the region forward, as they seek to promote local retailers in the thriving township. Pictured from left are Michael Alexander (Belgrave Dry Cleaning), Glenn Chandler (Bell Real Estate) and Bek Milikins (Hugs for Kids). See full story on page 3. 162015 Picture: ROB CAREW
Retract: icon intact “Yes. Shannon has sold an interest in his operations to a Singapore-based group that is a highly regarded company with long-term visions,” he said. “The VDM group (Vue de Monde) business is still under the direction of Shannon, who still holds a significant share of the entire business. “This does not involve the freehold property at Burnham Beeches. “This is still owned 100 per cent by myself and Shannon, not his hospitality business.” Mr Garrisson said the deal had not changed their plans and vision for Burnham Beeches. He reiterated their motivation is to see Burnham Beeches restored to its former glory. “The fact is Shannon and I have spent seven years of our time and money, with a hope to re-build Burnham Beeches,” he said. “If we only wanted to make dollars,
it would be a lot easier to do something in the city, but we are super passionate about Burnham Beeches.” The development has been at the centre of a protracted planning dispute, with the period recently closed to provide feedback on planning scheme amendment C143, and a concurrent planning permit, which will enable the development of a hotel and resort at the site. The consultation resulted in further community meetings, including one hosted by the Burnham Beeches Preservation Group on Thursday, 10 November. Mr Garrisson said the community should be assured they had the best interests of Burnham Beeches at heart. “I assure you - if this proposal does not get approved and Shannon and I give up, then the next purchaser who comes along ... will not be so sensitive and have such high standards for prop-
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urnham (B)eeches ... I suggest you quickly make a swift retraction on the article as we already have several nutters in the hills causing enough trouble with lies and manipulation.” Evidently, it was the latter sentence that upset many online posters. Through the Burnham Beeches Development Community Watch’s page on Facebook, the page administrator posted: “You would think that Mr Bennett’s brain might have ‘kicked in’ after posting those comments, and that surely a man in his position would recognise that it was probably none too wise to post a message of that nature on an extremely public platform”. In a reply to the ‘Mail’s inquiries, the page administrator provided the following response to these comments: “Our intention is not to be seen as an official ‘group’ with a ‘spokesperson’, but simply a receptacle for residents to gain information regarding the proposed development”.
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erty and hospitality as we do. “Myself and my company have built a reputation of the highest level for owning and restoring heritage buildings and respecting the environment around them.” Meanwhile, members of the Burnham Beeches Development Community Watch’s Facebook page have declined to comment over the online exchange. The frustration centres around Mr Bennett’s post after the initial story was published in ‘The Age’, where he expressed his disappointment. The comment read: “ ... very poor journalism. First of all it is not a shock, people who know me and the group ... were well aware about the joint venture arrangement ... it has been on public record since the 1st of September.” Mr Bennett then requested ‘The Age’ retract the article, writing ... “Thirdly none of the (f)reehold property ... has been sold, especially (B)
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BURNHAM Beeches developers Shannon Bennett and Adam Garrisson have denied the iconic site is now in the hands of foreign investors, despite reports of a secret deal. On 12 November, ‘The Age’ newspaper reported celebrity chef Bennett had sold a majority stake in his hospitality business to a Singapore family for nearly $15 million, with the deal including a stake in the Burnham Beeches redevelopment project. The article inspired a flurry of activity through social media channels, including on the Burnham Beeches Development Community Watch’s page on Facebook. The story also prompted a heated online exchange between Mr Bennett and concerned posters. However, Mr Garrisson told the ‘Mail’ a deal has been struck, but it did not involve the freehold of Burnham Beeches.
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By Peter Douglas