Annie Cannon-Brookes' Burradoo farm gate under council investigation

The council confirmed the investigation in a statement on Thursday, saying no further comment would be provided.

The 250-hectare property on the outskirts of Bowral, in the NSW Southern Highlands, opened as a farm-gate operation at Easter, taking advantage of NSW agritourism laws introduced in 2022 that allowed commercial farmers to bypass council development approval to earn extra income. The precinct includes the Three Blue Ducks restaurant, a bakery and cafe, an orchard, a market garden, and livestock grazing. The restaurant won the New Restaurant of the Year award at the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards on Monday.

A private certifier granted Burradoo Park Farm complying development consent in 2024 for a gelato shop, market-garden cooking area, bakery and restaurant.

Local residents have submitted dozens of objections. David Coulthard called the operation “a farm gate on an industrial scale.” Another resident, Peter Morris, said he logged 804 traffic movements between 8am and 10am one Sunday, compared with 20 passing cars previously, and described the situation as a “traffic nightmare.”

Objections also raised safety concerns about accessing the venue via a railway crossing. Resident Robert Johns noted in his submission that the number of pedestrians accessing the property on any given day would far exceed those at nearby Burradoo Station. An Australian Rail Track Corporation spokesperson said the corporation was not consulted during the original approval process.

A spokesperson for Burradoo Park Farm said the business had responded to council concerns “constructively” and moved into the development application process as quickly as possible. The spokesperson said measures introduced since opening included visitor management, traffic controls, shuttle bus services, parking arrangements, pedestrian safety initiatives and specialist studies.

The local councillor, Rachel Russell, questioned the use of the fast-tracked legislation. “Theoretically this fast-tracked farm-gate legislation was to help struggling farmers. How is it actually being used? Could we need just a couple more checks and balances to get it right for everyone?” she said.

The development application before council seeks to expand the venue from a capacity of 100 visitors at any one time to 250. Of more than 100 submissions received by council, almost half supported the expansion, citing private investment in the local economy, employment opportunities and kitchen garden facilities. Supporters include the head of Cannon-Brookes' SMART Collective, Three Blue Ducks' group executive chef Troy Crisante, contractors, the local traffic control company director and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.