Tuesday, 15 October, 2024
Safety concerns after similar Melba Hwy collisions
Climate resilience inquiry hears reality
Aurora dances across the eastern skies
See Real Estate liftout inside
PAGE 3
PAGE 7
PAGE 14
PAGE 17
A Star News Group Publication
PR OP ER TY
Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808
Hop Hen team members Tim, Mike and Missy are extremely relieved the beer garden gets to stay. (Stewart Chambers: 436854)
People power helps Hop Hen brewery win VCAT reprieve for beer garden so..
Raise your glasses By Mikayla van Loon A Lilydale brewery has won at VCAT getting the refusal of its beer garden overturned. Hop Hen Brewing, located on Beresford Road, had been granted use of part of the common land to establish a beer garden under the planning permission exemptions during the pandemic. In July last year, the brewing company was advised by Yarra Ranges Council it would have to shut down the outdoor patronage area, with a
provision due to expire in October 2024. Starting a petition, owners Mike and Jodie Leonard received an outpouring of community support, gaining 6258 signatures. “This space helped us navigate restrictions, ensuring our customers could gather safely,” the petition read. “Losing our Beer Garden will have a direct impact on the sense of community our local brewery has worked so hard to create.” Mr Leonard said the decision to allow the beer
garden to stay came as “such a relief” after more than a year of uncertainty. “It’s a really massive decision for us and we couldn’t be happier,” he said. “We’re really thankful to our community for their support, all our patrons, our wonderful customers. Personally I’m thankful to my staff, who’ve been right on board and behind this the whole way.” The micro-brewery, which operates out of an industrial estate, was first granted a permit in
September 2018 to use the factory it resides in for the manufacturing, sale and consumption of liquor, as well as a reduction in car parking spaces and up to 85 patrons at any given time. What makes Hop Hen Brewing somewhat unique for the area, Mr Leonard said, is the idea of tasting the product at the source. “There’s really nothing like it in this area where you can enjoy the product on site where it’s made. That’s the whole point of it. Continued page 5
12722723-KG42-24