Can local objectors really stop Rhyll’s beer flowing

THE former State Minister for Everything, Martin Pakula, has already ‘turned the first sod’ at the site of the $4 million Rhyll Brewery and Distillery.

He did so as the Minister for Tourism and Industry Support in June this year, in the company of Bass Coast Mayor Cr Michael Whelan.

And the State Government has even allocated a $1.2 million Regional Tourism Investment Fund grant to the work.

But the project hasn’t received the approval of Council yet.

Recently the shire listed the application at 11 Beach Street on its Advertised Planning Applications register and already it has attracted 10 objections.

But if you think that represents the local response, you'd be sorely mistaken.

Some time ago, the Rhyll Community Association conducted a local poll which produced a near-90% vote in favour. Comments on the Phillip Island Noticeboard were even more supportive.

"Bring it on," they say.

The objectors don’t want a brewery to open up in the town’s occasionally busy main street, especially if the council agrees to waive the 36 onsite carparking space requirement.

But, with a total area of approximately 870m2, not much more than the size of a normal residential block, the Mixed-Use Zone (MUZ) location is unlikely to be able to accommodate the brewery, the 90-person restaurant planned, five staff carparks and the customer parking as well.

“At Christmas it’s a nightmare already,” said a nearby local trader who declined to be named.

But the sentiment is representative of the objections already received.

Here’s the flavour of some of them:

“I cannot believe that the Bass Coast Shire is allowing a brewery/boutique restaurant in Rhyll. There is already an inadequate number of parking spaces. As this brewery is advertising online that they will cater for 124 visitors, including restaurant visitors, I believe that Rhyll is heading for a traffic nightmare. The upgrade of the boat ramp will also attract more boats, trailers, and day trippers. Where is everyone going to park?”

The objector went on to claim that traffic movements, around the boat ramp car park were already “dangerous”.

Another objected to “a fourth brewery” on the Island but listed the lack of parking as the main concern.

“At this point in time it is impossible to get a car park on the Esplanade …there simply isn’t any room to accommodate adequate parking for the likely volume of customers that a brewery would attract …the newly developed purpose-built boat ramp and boat trailer parking area is not designed to act as an overflow area for public car parking.”

Another objector worried about odours from the beer and spirits manufacturing plant, also focusing on the lack of carparking in Rhyll.

But according to the applicants, they're not going to be a commercial brewery, simply making enough for consumption on site to create the ambience of a brewery and a new gastronomic destination.

The applicants will provide five staff carparks on site and believe the “overflow car parking demand is likely to be in the order of 20 spaces”.

They say the impact of this number will be further reduced by those parking to use both the boat ramp and the brewery and by the fact that dinner guests will attend when there’s ample parking.

Where to next?

It’s over to the councillors.

And the Mayor Cr Michael Whelan doesn’t believe his ability to debate and vote on the application will be compromised in anyway by his show of support at the grant announcement back in June.

You can read about the proposal and objections on the Bass Coast Shire Council website https://www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/building-planning/advertised-plans-and-planning-register/advertised-planning-applications?suburb=&sort=desc&keywords=rhyll#results