New brewery and distillery planned for Rhyll

A new brewery and distillery planned for Rhyll will produce about 60,000 litres of beer a year and will make a variety of rums and gins.

The planning permit for The Rhyll Brewery & Distillery, currently out for community feedback, is for a liquor licence, and the construction of a 491m² double-storey, nine-metre high building at 11 Beach Road, which is currently a 764m² vacant site.

The permit is also seeking a reduction in parking, with five car parks supplied for staff and a legal requirement for 36 spaces.

The lower level of the $4 million development will include a restaurant, two bars, brewhouse and still, able to seat 90 patrons, including outdoor dining. The first floor will include a conference room, kitchenette for staff, one bedroom with ensuite as well as a staff bathroom.

“Rhyll Brewery & Distillery will help put Rhyll on the map … And make the small town of Rhyll a must visit destination,” the permit states, adding there will also be tours on weekends.

It will offer six core beers and then seasonal speciality releases, tap beer direct from the tank, beer paddles, house made spirits and locally sourced spirits, with live music on weekends.

Take-away beer options will be offered by a crowler machine – canned beer direct from the tap – and an all-day food offering (pizzas, burgers, seafood and salads), with takeaway pizzas also available.

The project received $1.2 million in state government funding earlier this year, with owner Justin Jamieson at the time saying he hoped the project would be built by September 2023.

Impacts

The enterprise will operate Monday to Sunday, 7am-11pm, with alcohol served from 11am-11pm

A venue management plan included in the permit said “at all times” staff and security will “manage and minimise impacts” on neighbours, with a register detailing the complaint and action taken.

“Minimising the unacceptable levels of patron noise in our outdoor areas would be done by closing the outdoor area if the noise becomes unacceptable.

“Rhyll Brewery & Distillery will take every complaint seriously and act quickly to address the issues raised. We will call or visit the complainant personally and listen to their concerns. A contact number will be offered and we will explain to the complainant what we intend to do to address the issue. We will them follow up and see if the issue has been resolved or further action needs to be taken.”

The land is on a designated flood prone area and following discussions with Melbourne Water, the floor level height was increased.

There are no significant trees on the site, with the planned removal of one tree, a juvenile cedar wattle.

Traffic

The plan has already received one objection, with the submitter concerned the proposal will cause a “traffic nightmare”, especially after the boat ramp upgrade is opened.

The permit states there are 132 on-street car parking spaces, including 25 on Lock Road.

Consultants carried out a car parking survey on Saturday January 22 at lunch and dinner time. Peak parking demand at 1pm saw 85 vehicles recorded and 39 vacant spaces, the consultants said.

The consultants said they expected anglers using the new boat ramp will also visit the brewery restaurant, so “the site generated parking demand will be less as some of the patrons will already be parked in the area”.

The consultants said a public bus operates between Cowes and Rhyll twice a day, once in the morning and once at mid-afternoon.

“It is possible that some patrons may use this bus service to travel to the site in the afternoon but would then need to use another form of transport to go home later in the day.”

They concluded car parking demand was likely to be in the order of 70 per cent of the required 36 parks, so “overflow car parking demand is in the order of 20 spaces”.

“The level of traffic expected to be generated is considered to be minimal and will not have any adverse impacts on the operation of the road network,” the consultants concluded.

“Having regard to the car parking demand, and the availability of car parking in the area, there is sufficient justification to warrant a reduction in the statutory car parking requirement.”