Emu Plains could soon be home to a craft beer tap room after a local brewer submitted plans to include two bars on site.
In August, Mountain Culture Beer Co, which operates a successful brewpub in Katoomba, began brewing operations at 35 David Road, Emu Plains after it outgrew its brewing capacity at Katoomba following the rapid growth of the business.
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After purchasing the site earlier this year, Mountain Culture is now seeking permission from Penrith Council to establish a retail area for the sale of products produced on site, as well as the ability for on-site consumption.
“Opportunities for holding tastings, tours or workshops is also proposed for the premises,” the Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) shows.
“Accordingly, consent is now sought as part of this Development Application (DA) for an ‘artisan food and drink industry’ at the site.
The proposal seeks consent for 180 patrons and proposes the bars would operate from 10am to 10pm Sunday to Wednesday and 10am to midnight Thursday to Saturday.
“New aspects of the Mountain Culture proposal include the introduction of two new bars from which products produced on site could be sold to the public, being the mezzanine bar and the ground floor bar,” the SEE states.
“These bars would also enable consumption of the products on site once an on-premises authorisation is obtained from Liquor & Gaming NSW.”
The DA states a new suspended ‘catwalk’ that extends from the northern side of the mezzanine would enable tours to be conducted from above the brewery floor in a “safe and unique way”.
A second bar is proposed at the ground floor adjacent to the eastern entry.
“This smaller bar will enable more convenient take-away sales and tastings in an accessible ground floor location,” the SEE shows.
The DA is the latest in a string of similar requests by local microbrewers, with Squinters Brewing Co submitting a yet-to-be-determined DA in August to transform an industrial warehouse on Peachtree Road, Penrith into a brewery and associated restaurant and bar.
Rusty Penny Brewing Co also recently gained approval for the fit-out and use of a microbrewery, distillery and smoke house at 137 Coreen Avenue, Penrith, with retail and on-site consumption also locked in.
Alena Higgins
Alena Higgins is the Weekender's Senior News Reporter, primarily covering courts and Council issues.