Development Assessment Panel backs big winery-cidery-restaurant for Burnside Road despite Shire refusal

A future venue on Burnside Road had its scaling up approved by a State-led review panel but the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River is disappointed by the move. The bid to increase the number of patrons allowed at the proposed winery and brewery-cidery plus restaurant was approved by the Regional Development Assessment Panel late last month. In freshly released minutes from the meeting, it was revealed the three outside panel members voted not to back the shire’s previous refusal, despite the backing of panel members and shire councillors Greg Boland and David Binks. Instead, an alternative supported the increase to 200 patrons — up from the previously-endorsed 80 — plus a slight extension in trading hours as a way to intensify the site’s endorsed agricultural uses. In arguing for the increase, proponent Nick Morris told the panel he had a long interest in agriculture and producing food he had grown himself. His family already had ties to the region through Si Vintners winery and he hired and worked with planners even before buying the Burnside site. “We spent a long time looking for the right property in the region where we can grow produce on site and promote it through the proposed venue,” he told the hearing. “We are really looking to develop something in keeping with the Margaret River vision . . . respecting the rural character of the locality. That is mostly barren with crops and cattle, with 5.8ha planted since purchase and a new dam installed. Mr Morris said he was defending the agricultural purposes of the property but since the pandemic, increased costs and market changes had to be considered. On-site wine sales and hospitality offerings included a “moderate increase” in patron capacity to make the proposed business viable. Margaret River-based planning consultant Marc Halsall said development of the agricultural operation was well underway since work started after an initial 2017 council approval. He said the brewery and restaurant were “incidental” to the agricultural pursuits at the site and was “quite typical” for such producers. Cr Boland opposed the 200-patron limit. “I’m not sure we have the justification for that number,” he said. “There will be significant impacts from the sort of number we are talking about. The figure of 80, arrived at some years ago, was a mediated outcome.” Cr Binks also lamented the approval and argued 100 patrons should be the limit but later lost a bid to cut back patron numbers and parking to that figure. “I cannot see any justification for more than doubling the current patronage,” he said. “(It) is unreasonable. I see no planning grounds for it.” After the decision, shire chief executive Andrea Selvey said the council had recommended refusal because the land was zoned for agriculture and the expansion did not align with the Local Planning Scheme. “We’re disappointed that the DAP overturned this decision,” Ms Selvey said. The venue wil also be open until 6pm rather than 5pm.