New Norfolk Distillery decision delayed by lack of councillors at Derwent Valley Council meeting

UPDATED: A shortage of councillors prevented consideration of a rum distillery project at the Derwent Valley Council meeting.

Project architect Thomas Bailey, from Room 11 Architects, and New Norfolk Distillery director Justin Derksen at the site of the proposed distillery and cellar door. Picture: FIONA HARDING

A COUNCIL unable to approve a $3 million rum distillery because of a lack of numbers has been given a two-week extension by the proponent.

A lack of councillors prevented the Derwent Valley Council from considering a development application for the New Norfolk Distillery proposed for the Willow Court historic site at Thursday night’s monthly meeting.

Distillery director and head of distilling, Tarrant Derksen, said an extension had been granted.

“To ensure transparency and full community confidence in our proposal, we have granted the council a two-week extension to allow them to hold a special meeting to vote on the New Norfolk Distillery development application,” Mr Derksen said.

“We look forward to council further considering our development application at the special meeting.”

BROTHERS HOPE TO TRANSFORM TOWN WITH RUM DISTILLERY

Planning officer Linda Graham had recommended conditional approval of the first stage of the proposal, which would see a 300L still installed in a disused hospital ward, along with a sales area and tasting bar.

But with two councillors absent from the whole meeting and another two leaving the room after declaring conflicts of interest in the project, the council was temporarily without a quorum.

New Norfolk Distillery director Justin Derksen and project architect Thomas Bailey, from Room 11 Architects, on site of the proposed distillery and cellar door at Willow Court, New Norfolk. Picture: FIONA HARDING

Council general manager Greg Winton said the council, acting as a planning authority, needed five councillors in the room to be able to consider the item.

Mr Winton said without the proponent’s approval for the time extension, the Land Use Planning Act would deem the application to have been refused.

Mayor Ben Shaw apologised to the large crowd present, acknowledging that most of them were there to hear the distillery discussion.

The planner’s report noted that during the period of public comment, 54 objections had been received and 31 letters of support. The distillery is proposed to be established adjacent to the Agrarian Kitchen Eatery.