Annie Cannon-Brookes' farm expansion plan under council investigation
Wingecarribee Shire is investigating Burradoo Park Farm. The farm used fast-tracked farm-gate laws to skip normal development approval.
Billionaire Annie Cannon-Brookes' 250-hectare Burradoo Park Farm near Bowral is under investigation by the local council. Residents complained of gridlock since it opened in April.
The precinct is home to the award-winning Three Blue Ducks restaurant, bakery and cafe. Burradoo Park Farm used fast-tracked farm-gate laws to skip council approval.
The farm now wants to expand capacity from 100 to 250 visitors at a time. More than 50 locals object.
They cite heavy traffic on narrow country roads, parking chaos and safety risks near the railway line. One resident logged 804 car movements from 8am to 10am one Sunday, compared with 20 before.
The farm says it has added traffic controls, shuttle buses and parking measures. The original approval claimed nearby homes were more than 600 metres away, though maps show others closer.
- 250 hectares
- Property size
- From 100 to 250 at a time
- Visitor capacity expansion
- More than 50
- Local objections
Why it mattersThe investigation tests whether fast-tracked farm laws are being misused for large-scale tourism. This could undermine planning protections in regional areas.
AustraliaNSW residents in rural areas now face questions about whether farm-gate exemptions can be stretched to allow major commercial venues without standard development scrutiny.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
