Craft brewery request

Baw Baw Shire could soon get its first craft brewery.

A Neerim South businessman has submitted plans to convert a former bank building in the town’s main street, where her currently operates an unrelated business, into a restaurant and licenced microbrewery.

There are three craft breweries in Gippsland but none of them are in Baw Baw shire.

Adam Sheehan said plans for his Five Aces Brewing Company were to produce local beers for cellar door sales, on-site consumption and speciality beer suppliers.

The restaurant and brewery would target the tourist and local markets with visitors able to watch the brewing process.

A maximum of 60 patrons would be accommodated.

Mr Sheehan is seeking a full reduction of car parking requirements for the new business, the application stating people would mainly visit outside of the main commercial trading hours and that there are 100 parking spaces available within 200 metres of the building.

Under the planning regulations 24 car spaces are required to be provided for the planned use whereas the current business operating from the building requires only the two that are located on site.

Mr Sheehan said he would run the business “hands on” and employ a chef, kitchen hand and production staff.

No objections to the proposal have been lodged with the council following advertising by way of a notice on the building and written vice to nearby property owners identified by the shire.