WORK on a new $15 million brewery for Goulburn could start by the end of the year.
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Councillors unanimously approved Macarthur Grange’s development at their meeting on Tuesday.
Promising 150 jobs in the longer-term, the facility will be built in the 10,000 square metre former RDM building on the corner of Ducks Lane and Hume Street.
Company CEO Anton Szpitalik was thrilled with the decision and said the council had acted quickly.
“Council has been very forthright with us and delivered a result well ahead of our timeline,” he told councillors during an address on Tuesday.
Cr Margaret O’Neill, for one, welcomed the project.
“We’re very pleased to see you come here. You’ll bring a lot of jobs to Goulburn. Good luck,” she said.
Macarthur Grange, trading as Brewpack Manufacturing Pty Ltd, is expanding its Smeaton Grange facility to Goulburn.
With “100 per cent growth” annually, Mr Szpitalik said expansion was a must.
In Goulburn the company will increase its craft beer range, manufacture ‘mainline’ soft drinks in the first phase and add a microdistillery later. Macarthur Grange currently makes the ‘Stockade’ brand but will also undertake contract brewing here.
In the early stages it will churn out 10 million litres annually and 30m litres in the longer-term.
Mr Szpitalik said some work could start by the end of this year.
“We have many layers of the project to overcome, including detailed engineering and tendering, but we’d hope to move some equipment in and start civil work on the site,” he said.
The company want the facility up and running by the end of next year. It will also include a 150 square metre ‘cellar door,’ tasting and small restaurant space, a function area and incorporate brewery tours.
The developers will have to secure an Environmental Protection Authority licence to operate and a liquor licence. The latter will call for public submissions.
Planners explored the social impact of alcohol sales as part of the DA.
“Any liquor licence issued will incorporate suitable control measures to guard against significant increase in anti-social behaviour stemming from alcohol consumption,” planners stated.
On Tuesday Cr Alf Walker quizzed Mr Szpitalik about the brewery’s commitment to the community, especially around responsible service of alcohol (RSA).
Mr Szpitalik replied that RSA was part of the company’s core beliefs and it worked to a “very high standard.” Furthermore, Brewpack donated to medical research and sporting groups and hoped to continue its community contribution in Goulburn.
The DA drew three submissions, including from The Goulburn Group, which called for “a clearer commitment to sustainable practices including significant water harvesting, storage and recycling, given the size of the roof.”
The company plans to capture roof water in a 46,000 litre tank for non-potable uses.
Two submitters were concerned about odour from the brewing process and called for strict control measures.
“On the Australia Food Blog the smell is described as ‘flowers, chicken broth, leather and old people,” one wrote.
Other studies reported a “strong yeast and vegemite odour.”
Odour control and reporting will be part of the EP&A licence and council conditions. But Brewpack consultants found that based on modelling, it was “unlikely” that emissions would adversely affect the area.
Spent grain from the brewing process would be kept in 65- tonne sealed silos and excess yeast in a five-tonne sealed silo.
It would only be a problem if left open, Mr Szpitalik said.
Brewpack sells spent grain from its Smeaton Grain brewery for $45 a tonne to graziers for stock feed.
Mr Spitalik anticipated similar strong demand in the Goulburn region.
For now, it’s full steam ahead on the project. The company also has hopes for an Oktoberfeststyle beer festival.
“There’s a vibrant craft beer culture out there and combined with local vendors of fine food, it’s a great concept we’d love to bring to Goulburn,” Mr Szpitalik said.
A proposed 30-metre high beer bottle to promote the brewery is the subject of a separate DA.
Brewpack is addressing concerns raised in public submissions.
