Whiskey distillery checks out Goulburn sites

The company's identity remains confidential at this stage but the council says four to five sites in and around Goulburn are being considered.

It's one of several business opportunities in the offing with which the council is assisting.

Business development officer Jackson Reardon said it was very early days.

"They want to base themselves off what a Tasmanian company is doing (Sullivan's Cove at Cambridge, near Hobart)," he said.

"They're looking at a number of sites and they're very, very keen. They want people to have the whole experience, including a cellar door and restaurant.

"It's an exciting proposition and we'll support them as much as we can."

Discussions have already occurred regarding land zonings and the party has gone away to do its homework.

The company reportedly wants a modest sized site close to the city and would not require large amounts of water.

Mr Reardon said the party knew Goulburn from doing other work in the region and one of its employees worked in the area.

"But it also comes back to strategic location; they see it as a place that's going forward," he said.

Also on the drinks front, Tribe Breweries is undergoing commissioning at its large site on the corner of Ducks Lane and Hume Street.

Community liaison officer Geoff Kettle said this was progressing well and councillors recently toured the operation.

The facility will manufacture up to 30 million litres of craft beer annually for the domestic and overseas market.

Mr Kettle said only several more conditions had to be met to secure a construction certificate. Tribe Breweries is hoping to begin manufacture at the end of July.

The company is liaising with Coles' Human Resources about employment possibilities for some of the estimated 250 workers who will lose their jobs when its distribution centre in Ducks Lane closes. No timeframe has been set for the closure.

Council general manager Warwick Bennett said several parties were interested in buying the Coles DC building. The company has a lease until March, 2022. Mr Bennett said the council had been told that Coles was requesting an extension.

The council is also talking to Canberra-based company, Goterra about a waste management scheme.

Mr Reardon said the company was interested in undertaking a trial managing waste using insect farming. In an automated setting, the insects create what Goterra describes as a "highly nutritious manure called Frass," which is suitable as a soil conditioner.

The insects are also a nutritious source of protein and fats that can be used for poultry, aquaculture and pet food.

Senior council staff met with the company's CEO in April. Mr Jackson said they are now considering how it could work in with waste management practices.

In Canberra, Goterra work directly with restaurants and food premises. It's unclear at this stage whether the company would do the same in Goulburn, or simply work with the council. A proposal is yet to be formulated and a report brought to councillors.

On other fronts, Woodlands Ridge Poultry is moving ahead with plans for a processing facility at North Goulburn.

Plans have been lodged with the State planning department for the $70 million to $90m processing operation on Common Street. The development will employ up to 150 people and include a childcare facility that's intended to be used by workers' families and the general community.

Council general manager Warwick Bennett told Tuesday night's council meeting that public consultation would begin in coming weeks.

"In the last discussion we had (with the developers), they were looking at starting construction in about 12 months," he said.

The development application is yet to be approved. An environmental impact study is being prepared.

Last October, the council secured a $7 million State Government grant to build infrastructure for the North Goulburn industrial precinct. The poultry processing plant is just one aspect of this precinct and the council is hoping to lure other businesses to the area.

The grant money will go towards road, water, sewer and other utility upgrades.

The council is also chasing up agribusiness opportunities.

"We think there are some exciting opportunities there and we continue to work with (consultants), Badgerys Creek and Western Sydney councils," Mr Bennett said.

In April, Mayor Bob Kirk and staff met with the Department of Primary Industries' director general, Michael Bullen and Levi Nupponen, the managing director of consultancy firm, Agrology. The aim was to gain a better understanding of an intensive agribusiness precinct to be developed around Western Sydney Airport and the way that assets in this region could be used for the same activity.

The delegation looked at the council wastewater farm which a report to councillors stated had many many advantages for intensive agriculture, such as location, water and power availability.

"Topography may be an issue as the ground needs to be completely flat for greenhouses. However they could be tiered in areas on the farm," the report stated.

Meantime, South Sydney based firm, CamCast Pty Ltd has won approval for a foundry at Bradfordville. The company manufactures light and heavy engineering castings through heat treatment of aluminium, copper, lead, brass and other non-ferrous materials. It intends to employ 10 local people.

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