Local businessman proposes Westbury whisky distillery

By Sharon Webb

MEANDER VALLEY Council has given the green light for a whisky distillery in Westbury next to Pearn’s Steam World.

The distillery, to be established by the managing director of Westbury industrial zone’s Kolmark Pty Ltd, Mark Kolodziej, would produce boutique spirits for cellar door sale and include tours of the facility and a café.

Documents supporting the application to council say the distillery will employ three people and operate 7am-5pm Monday to Friday. The café will open from 8am to 5pm seven days a week.

Mr Kolodziej said, ‘I would like to see Western Tiers Distillery become an icon in that location on Meander Valley Road.’ But he also maintained he won’t count his chickens too early because using the location for that purpose requires an amendment to the Meander Valley Interim Planning Scheme 2013.

A motion put to the council by Cllr Tanya King and seconded by Cllr Andrew Sherriff approved the zoning change for the distillery but the final decision is made by the Tasmanian Planning Commission.

‘We’re waiting on a definitive answer from the commission before pushing the serious buttons,’ Mr Kolodziej said.

Nevertheless, Mr Kolodziej has posted distillery mockup illustrations on a Western Tiers Distillery Facebook page.

Owned by Mr Kolodziej since 2001, the site at 67 Meander Valley Rd previously was used for steel fabrication and currently is used for fishing lure manufacturing.

The proposed development recycles the existing buildings and includes minor extensions and modernising to provide café access/service and covered outdoor seating.

A council officer’s report stated that Westbury currently does not have boutique distillery establishments. ‘The proposed distillery and ancillary sales diversifies the current commercial product and will act as additional tourist drawcard,’ it stated.

‘As has been experienced in other rural locations in Tasmania, the specialised nature of boutique distilling as a premium product, raises the profile of not only Tasmanian produce and beverage craft in the retail market, but also the profile of tourism in the locality as a demonstrated attractor.’ sharon.webb@ meandervalleygazette.com