By BEN CAMERON
Things are set to get a little livelier in Officer after Cardinia Shire Council green lit D’Angelo Estate Vineyard’s plans to expand its patronage to 60 and play live music on weekends.
Operating hours have been extended on Friday and Saturdays from 6pm to 11pm and live, acoustic music can be played noon and 5pm on weekends, and not amplified in outdoor areas.
Mayor Graeme Moore allayed fears that future residents moving into the nearby Timbertop Estate would be disturbed by late night parties.
“It’s not going to be a rock concert, let’s make this clear,” he said.
Council rejected the vineyard’s application to increase patron numbers to 120 however.
“Council officers question whether a facility that can accommodate 120 patrons still falls within a ‘Cellar Door’,” a council report found.
“A Cellar Door is used as a space for the sale and sampling of the vineyard produces in small groups.
“It is unlikely that should patron numbers increase to 120 that the typical cellar door experience will be able to continue.
“It is therefore considered appropriate to increase the patron numbers to 60.”
Ranges’ Ward Cr Brett Ward said new buyers should; “go in with their eyes wide open and know what’s there”.
“It’s not another pokies venue,” he said.
While council has received no objections so far three councillors voted against the plan including Port Ward Cr David Young
“It’s totally inappropriate to be located in a residential area,” he said.
“We don’t know who’s going to be there (in the future)”.
