“Beyond disappointed”: What’s happening on the corner of this major Boronia intersection?

The $77.63 million development of the Mountain Highway Logistics Hub would include up to 50,000 square metres of warehouse space.

Matthew Sims
October 20, 2025

A former president of the Knox Environment Society has hit out at the removal of trees included in the construction of a four-warehouse industrial hub in Boronia.

⁉️ What happened? Victoria’s Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approved an amendment to the Knox Planning Scheme on June 25 to allow a $77.6 million development at 1061 Mountain Highway in Boronia.

Previously the site was occupied by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline for more than 50 years.
Construction on the new development began in July, with the first warehouse to house CoolDrive Auto Parts and the Blanchard Racing Team, which fields two cars in the V8 Supercars championship.

💊 A 50-year garden history: While stewards of the site, GlaxoSmithKline cultivated a native garden on the property of more than 1,700 trees and plants. Many of these trees have now been removed as part of redevelopment works.

"A powerful act of hope": Hundreds of Knox locals make light work of planting 3,500 trees

Native trees help reduce salt content and soil erosion.

📣 What are people saying? Former president of the Knox Environment Society, Darren Wallace – who also runs Facebook page Greening Knox – has slammed the situation as “appalling” and “concerning” given the impact the loss of habitat would have on local wildlife, including bats or possums.

🌳🦇 Flora and fauna: While trees along Colchester Road were protected under a Vegetation Protection Overlay, many along the site’s western boundary have been removed.

🪓 No protections: Wallace said he was “beyond disappointed” by the inability for Knox Council to be part of the process.

🗣️ “It just seems frankly lazy that these trees were removed wholesale,” Wallace told the Eastern Melburnian.

Protecting 14 native trees from developer’s chainsaw will save Knox Council $33,000

The red ironbarks will remain following a Monday night amendment.

✍️ No options: Under the Knox Planning Scheme, there is no permit application required for a proposal such as the Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, as it is deemed to “make a significant contribution to Victoria’s economy”. Instead, the Planning Minister is able to give full approval.

💬 Seeking answers: The Eastern Melburnian is waiting for a response from the Planning Minister.

Image Credit: Greening Knox/Charter Hall