South Burnett council approves major expansion for Dusty Hill Vineyard

A $7.5million expansion of the Moffatdale winery complex will include upgrading the tavern into a restaurant and converting the cooperage into a reception centre. Full details:

Plans for the new look Dusty Hill Vineyard were submitted to the South Burnett Regional Council.

The South Burnett Regional Council has approved a $7.5 million development application for a major facelift to a popular winery.

At an ordinary meeting on April 26, the newly elected council voted to approve the material change of use application at the Dusty Hill Winery owned by Joe Prendergast.

The application, which was first unveiled in 2020 proposed an upgrade to the Irish Tavern into a 643 sqm restaurant and to convert The Cooperage into a 393 sqm function centre with reception centre.

The application also sought to build a new chapel at the vineyard for weddings, as well as a cafe.

Plans for the new look Dusty Hill Vineyard have been approved by the South Burnett Regional Council.

It was moved for recommendation at the council meeting, with the application deemed “properly made” in May of 2023, subject to conditions.

Conditions for approval included the addition of a two-lane bitumen road from the property’s entrance, along with a new sewage treatment system and 245 sealed parking spaces.

According to council CEO Mark Pitt, the Dusty Joe’s Pty Ltd company owned by Mr Prendergast received a $2.25 million grant from the state government to support the development.

It was revealed Mr Prendergast has already invested several million into bringing the development to life, which had spent several years with the council for planning assessments.

Plans for the new look Dusty Hill Vineyard have been approved by the South Burnett Regional Council.

Once the upgrades are finalised, the business is expected to be open from 6am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, with shortened hours from 10am to 6pm on Sundays.

While the application was approved by the council, several of the newly elected councillors expressed concerns at seeing such a major development with years of paperwork seeking approval within a matter of days of first laying eyes on the application.

Only one councillor voted against approving the development.

Mr Prendergast also owns the Goomeri Grand Hotel which in 2023 submitted a development application with the Gympie Regional Council for a facelift and expansion.

Mr Prendergast is currently facing a number of charges in Murgon Magistrates Court, unrelated to his business activities.