Hoppers Brewing approved by Tweed Shire Council for Industry Drive

An exciting new artisan craft brewery and restaurant has been approved by council as the need to protect industrial areas from ‘destination entertainment’ is reiterated. See what’s planned.

A major South Tweed brewery and restaurant proposal has been given the green light as council foreshadows the growing need to protect industrial areas from gentrification.

Tweed Shire Council voted unanimously to approve a new artisan craft brewery and restaurant at Industry Drive in Tweed Heads South at Thursday’s meeting.

The proposal for the estimated $1.35 million Hoppers Brewing would see residents flock to the craft brewery, retail area, tasting bar and lounge, while the facility will also hold tours and workshops.

The brewer’s vision is to create a family-friendly space focused on “great beer & good vibes” with an emphasis on locally sourced produce, according to their website.

The brewery would employ an estimated five staff and be open Monday-Friday from 6am-6pm.

Plans for the Hoppers Brewing brewery at Industry Drive, Tweed Heads South. Picture: Supplied

The site previously had “in-principle” support by councillors, with mayor Chris Cherry noting full approval could be reached with a number of conditions.

Those included that restaurant usage be ancillary to the brewery.

Ms Cherry said the brewery was permitted in the zoning while acknowledging council staff’s recommended refusal.

“It is proposing to be something that really adds to the area,” she said.

“I do think we need to think very strongly about restaurants and what happens in those zones where we need to retain land for employment-generating areas within our shire.

“That area of South Tweed is an area that holds a lot of businesses that really are generating employment, those businesses that can’t afford to pay a whole lot in rates.

“So we do need to be careful of making sure we don’t have businesses come in that can generate a lot higher revenue and that can kind of take over and gentrify those areas.”

The brewery company is hopeful the new spot can bring ‘great beer & good vibes’. Picture: Hoppers Brewing Co

Ms Cherry reiterated the need to protect industrial areas in a later motion to reform employment zones.

The NSW Department of Planning & Environment is working to reform and simplify employment zones.

As reported to council in March, the reform involves converting current business and industrial zones into a suite of five employment zones, supplemented by a mixed use zone, a working waterfront zone and a special zone reserved for unique areas that require tailored land use planning.

The current industrial area for the Hoppers Brewing brewery at Industry Drive, Tweed Heads South. Picture: Supplied

Council asked to send submissions to the department to detail concerns about protecting existing businesses on Thursday.

“The truth of the matter is food and drink premises can create a competing nature of uses for those areas that are recognised, like the car yards and different things that really can potentially be passed out of the market,” Ms Cherry said.

“There does need to be consideration to allow cafes and things for lunch there for workers because that certainly has been an issue but we really need some black and white criteria to ensure those food and drink premises don’t become a destination and then take over that zoning.”

Ms Cherry said it was about future protection against entertainment proliferation for areas that “need to be there to create employment and provide the services we all need”.

The motion was eventually deferred with council staff to hold workshops for councillors on the submissions.