Foster's Peninsula Tribulations
By Mike Hast 20/12/10
T’Gallant winery at Main Ridge is owned by brewing and wine giant Foster’s. It’s having another shot at expanding the permitted 60-seat restaurant and has lodged a second application with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to align its planning permits with the winery’s current operations. The first was refused by the Mornington
Peninsula Shire Council and struck out on appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Apeals Tribunal (VCAT).
Opponents including resident group Red Hill Community Action Group claim the winery has regularly hosted more than 300 patrons on the site; that its sewerage treatment plant is inadequate; that on site parking in this rural location serviced by a dirt road is insufficient and that noise is an issue.
The Foster’s/T’Gallant web site says the venue offers 4 hospitality areas in addition to the approved 60 seat tasting room. Two years ago the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council fined T’Gallant/Fosters more than $1100 for breaches of the permit regulating its operation.
Local residents say, “T’Gallant admitted in its [first] application to the shire that it regularly had up to 274 diners plus 40 cellar door customers, despite the limit of 60 patrons,”
In March 2009 Mornington Peninsula Shire considered an application for a permit to build a 274-seat restaurant plus a function centre on its 16-hectare property on Mornington-Flinders Road. It was rejected by a 10/0 decision.
Citing Council’s failure to make a decision in the mandatory 60 days, Fosters appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for determination.
The case was heard in September in 2009. VCAT rejected the application in February 2010, and described T’Gallant’s plan as being of a “scale and intensity [that] cannot be supported.”
Foster’s/TGallant is now asking the Shire Council to approve a 150-seat restaurant plus a cellar door area for 40 people.
The site is un-sewered. Fosters/TGallent says it will replace the venues water treatment plant, put air locks on doors to cut noise and construct;two car parks and undertake road-works on Mornington-Flinders Road including a right-turn lane and extension of the left-turn lane.
Dropped from the original plan is the function centre, a pergola for outside diners and a request for longer opening hours.
Red Hill Community Action president David Maddocks believes the Council having refused the first application will most likely to knock back the second.
“We predict the case will end up back in the tribunal, but the key fact remains – green wedge rules say only properties of 40 hectares can have a 150-seat restaurant and T’Gallant has only 16 hectares,” he said.
The action group would oppose the second application, he said.
“We represented our group and the Manton and Stony Creek Landcare Group last
time and we’ll do it again.”
Mr Maddocks said T’Gallant continued to operate outside its permit restrictions and it was disappointing the shire lacked the gumption to enforce the rules or collect the unpaid fine.
T’Gallant issued a press release in late November stating it had “listened to feedback
from local residents, visitors and the council in revising its planning permit
amendment application for the improvement of its facilities”.
T’Gallant founder and winemaker Kevin McCarthy stated: “T’Gallant has been welcoming visitors to its Main Ridge vineyards since the early 1990s.
“We’ve grown with support from our local community: sharing our love of peninsula wine and food with both locals and visitors.
“This proposal will allow us to ... upgrade ... visitor and staff facilities at T’Gallant within essentially the same footprint. Visually, nothing really will change as the upgrade would almost entirely be contained to the existing buildings.”
Mr McCarthy said T’Gallant had pioneered the introduction of Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio to Australia.
“We’ve become quite the ‘vocal local’ promoting peninsula wine and food. I want to keep doing this while continuing to make wine using the grapes from more than 40 hectares of local peninsula vineyards owned, leased or contracted to T’Gallant,” he said.
Mr McCarthy said T’Gallant employs 60 staff plus many others indirectly by supporting local suppliers and businesses. “Our cellar door and restaurants are key destinations in wine tourism and are recommended in reviews worldwide. And “T’Gallant’s wines are made almost exclusively from grapes grown on more than 40 hectares of the Mornington Peninsula – including the 14 planted hectares on site.”
However, VCAT heard that grapes were no longer processed at the winery. It’s believed that only one in five bottles served at the premises came from T’Gallant vines. T’Gallant’s Juliet Pinot Grigio 2008 was made with grapes from the Murray Darling, Strathbogie and Riverina regions.
It’s Juliet Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Clanc has grapes from Strathbogie, Barooga and Barossa Valley. It’s 2005 Ophelia Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay was made with fruit selected from premium sparkling regions throughout Australia and its Juliet Moscato was sourced from premium vineyards across south-eastern Australia.
Shire planner Sotirios Katakouzinos said the application would be considered by Councillors in late January or February.
Green Wedge advocates believe that this matter will test of the integrity of the Green Wedge planning provisions "not just on the Peninsula but also in the Yarra Ranges, Macedon and other areas".
Plans can be viewed at the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council office in Queen Street, Mornington
Links
Info on Proposal & hearings (Peninsula Speaks web site)
Shire 'to have say on T'Gallant' - Mike Hast Peninsula Weekly July 09
Foster's loses bid to expand eatery- Selma Milovanovic, Age February 20, 2010
T'Gallant plans 'still too big' - Jo Winterbottom Peninsula Weekly Dec 2010
T’Gallant winery at Main Ridge is owned by brewing and wine giant Foster’s. It’s having another shot at expanding the permitted 60-seat restaurant and has lodged a second application with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council to align its planning permits with the winery’s current operations. The first was refused by the Mornington
Peninsula Shire Council and struck out on appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Apeals Tribunal (VCAT).
Opponents including resident group Red Hill Community Action Group claim the winery has regularly hosted more than 300 patrons on the site; that its sewerage treatment plant is inadequate; that on site parking in this rural location serviced by a dirt road is insufficient and that noise is an issue.
The Foster’s/T’Gallant web site says the venue offers 4 hospitality areas in addition to the approved 60 seat tasting room. Two years ago the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council fined T’Gallant/Fosters more than $1100 for breaches of the permit regulating its operation.
Local residents say, “T’Gallant admitted in its [first] application to the shire that it regularly had up to 274 diners plus 40 cellar door customers, despite the limit of 60 patrons,”
In March 2009 Mornington Peninsula Shire considered an application for a permit to build a 274-seat restaurant plus a function centre on its 16-hectare property on Mornington-Flinders Road. It was rejected by a 10/0 decision.
Citing Council’s failure to make a decision in the mandatory 60 days, Fosters appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for determination.
The case was heard in September in 2009. VCAT rejected the application in February 2010, and described T’Gallant’s plan as being of a “scale and intensity [that] cannot be supported.”
Foster’s/TGallant is now asking the Shire Council to approve a 150-seat restaurant plus a cellar door area for 40 people.
The site is un-sewered. Fosters/TGallent says it will replace the venues water treatment plant, put air locks on doors to cut noise and construct;two car parks and undertake road-works on Mornington-Flinders Road including a right-turn lane and extension of the left-turn lane.
Dropped from the original plan is the function centre, a pergola for outside diners and a request for longer opening hours.
Red Hill Community Action president David Maddocks believes the Council having refused the first application will most likely to knock back the second.
“We predict the case will end up back in the tribunal, but the key fact remains – green wedge rules say only properties of 40 hectares can have a 150-seat restaurant and T’Gallant has only 16 hectares,” he said.
The action group would oppose the second application, he said.
“We represented our group and the Manton and Stony Creek Landcare Group last
time and we’ll do it again.”
Mr Maddocks said T’Gallant continued to operate outside its permit restrictions and it was disappointing the shire lacked the gumption to enforce the rules or collect the unpaid fine.
T’Gallant issued a press release in late November stating it had “listened to feedback
from local residents, visitors and the council in revising its planning permit
amendment application for the improvement of its facilities”.
T’Gallant founder and winemaker Kevin McCarthy stated: “T’Gallant has been welcoming visitors to its Main Ridge vineyards since the early 1990s.
“We’ve grown with support from our local community: sharing our love of peninsula wine and food with both locals and visitors.
“This proposal will allow us to ... upgrade ... visitor and staff facilities at T’Gallant within essentially the same footprint. Visually, nothing really will change as the upgrade would almost entirely be contained to the existing buildings.”
Mr McCarthy said T’Gallant had pioneered the introduction of Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio to Australia.
“We’ve become quite the ‘vocal local’ promoting peninsula wine and food. I want to keep doing this while continuing to make wine using the grapes from more than 40 hectares of local peninsula vineyards owned, leased or contracted to T’Gallant,” he said.
Mr McCarthy said T’Gallant employs 60 staff plus many others indirectly by supporting local suppliers and businesses. “Our cellar door and restaurants are key destinations in wine tourism and are recommended in reviews worldwide. And “T’Gallant’s wines are made almost exclusively from grapes grown on more than 40 hectares of the Mornington Peninsula – including the 14 planted hectares on site.”
However, VCAT heard that grapes were no longer processed at the winery. It’s believed that only one in five bottles served at the premises came from T’Gallant vines. T’Gallant’s Juliet Pinot Grigio 2008 was made with grapes from the Murray Darling, Strathbogie and Riverina regions.
It’s Juliet Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Clanc has grapes from Strathbogie, Barooga and Barossa Valley. It’s 2005 Ophelia Sparkling Pinot Noir Chardonnay was made with fruit selected from premium sparkling regions throughout Australia and its Juliet Moscato was sourced from premium vineyards across south-eastern Australia.
Shire planner Sotirios Katakouzinos said the application would be considered by Councillors in late January or February.
Green Wedge advocates believe that this matter will test of the integrity of the Green Wedge planning provisions "not just on the Peninsula but also in the Yarra Ranges, Macedon and other areas".
Plans can be viewed at the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council office in Queen Street, Mornington
Links
Info on Proposal & hearings (Peninsula Speaks web site)
Shire 'to have say on T'Gallant' - Mike Hast Peninsula Weekly July 09
Foster's loses bid to expand eatery- Selma Milovanovic, Age February 20, 2010
T'Gallant plans 'still too big' - Jo Winterbottom Peninsula Weekly Dec 2010