By NICOLE WILLIAMS
BENNY D’Angelo would have had a celebratory glass of wine on Monday after council approved a cellar door operation at his Officer winery.
D’Angelo Estate Vineyard, in Bayview Road Officer, will now be able to operate a cellar door for wine tastings and sales, after its original application in April 2011 was rejected.
The council rejected the 2011 permit on the grounds that the area was earmarked as part of the urban growth corridor and a restaurant was contrary to the strategy set out in the Officer Precinct Structure Plan (PSP); the owners also lost the case at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in December 2011.
But owner Benny D’Angelo is ecstatic after a permit for a cellar door, store and consumption of alcohol was approved at Monday night’s council meeting.
“It has been a long time coming,” Mr D’Angelo said.“Both my wife and I are ecstatic. We had a lot of support there (at the meeting) and everybody broke out in tears we were that happy.”
The vineyard has only one hoop to jump over in going through the formalities of liquor licensing, before it opens a cellar door seven days a week and begins offering small meals.
“The local community can now buy local wine from the cellar door and it will bring in more tourism,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about. It goes to prove we can all work together and have a vineyard among the houses.”
Councillor Tania Baxter moved the motion to approve the permit, against the planning officer’s recommendation.
Cr Baxter said the winery was an established business, prior to the expansion of the Urban Growth Boundary, which then included the property.
“This is an existing business in a rural area that feels it is being pushed out,” she said.“The vineyard adds character and aesthetics to the area.”
Mayor Brett Owen said it was not the council’s role to force a business out.
“People will move into the area knowing the winery is next door,” he said. “We have to take that on board. This will be a great asset of Officer.”
Cr Kate Lempriere compared the vineyard, when surrounded by housing in the future, to a vineyard in the centre of Paris, which she had visited.
“It will stand on the hill looking down at the grey aisles and it will add colour and life,” she said.
Councillors agreed that it could be a number of years until the area was developed and it should not stop the business for succeeding in that time.
“I want to thank the council to supporting this, finally, and a strong thank you to the Officer community who have been very supportive,” Mr D’Angelo said.
The alternative proposal was supported by all councillors except Cr David Young.
Cr Young raised concerns of the impact of spraying and other farming activities on residents who may buy in the surrounding areas and ‘entrenching’ the business in the area.
