Special meeting for distillery application

Illustration of the front section of Alonnah House at Willow
Court, which is proposed for converting into a distillery.

A SPECIAL council meeting will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) to allow councillors a second opportunity to consider the development application for a distillery at Willow Court in New Norfolk.

Local business Crusader Homes proposes developing its New Norfolk Distillery project in the former Alonnah House/Ward A building adjacent to the Agrarian Kitchen Eatery at Willow Court. The council's planning officer has recommended that Stage 1 of the development be approved, subject to conditions.

The council was to consider the application at its monthly meeting on May 16 but the absence of two councillors, and another two declaring conflicts of interest in the proposal, saw the meeting temporarily without the numbers necessary to proceed. General manager Greg Winton told those present that the council would seek an extension of time from the developers, and the remainder of the meeting proceeded as usual.

The council was subsequently granted a two-week extension and the $70,000 project will be considered at a special council meeting at 5pm tomorrow, in the New Norfolk Courthouse in Circle St.

A plan showing the area of the building
(pink) proposed for Stage 1 of the
distillery project.

The council's planning officer has amended the conditions of the proposed permit, to allow the distillery's tasting bar to sell other products, including liquor produced elsewhere. Previously the planner had recommended that no rum other than that produced on site may be sold from the premises. No explanation for this change is given in the agenda documents.

Other conditions relate to proposed alterations to the heritage-listed building, including the need for an archaeologist to monitor any works requiring ground disturbance, refusal of the complete removal of a security window, and limits on proposed internal demolition work. The developers will also be required to prepare a site interpretation plan.

The agenda documents for tomorrow night's meeting are available from the council chambers in Circle St, New Norfolk, and can also be accessed on the council website.