Casey backs

By Lia Bichel
CASEY Council has thrown its weight behind a thriving Clyde winery threatened by a State Government rezoning.
Councillors unanimously agreed to assist Brett Glover, who said State Government planning changes put a sudden halt to operations at his La Fontaine Estate winery.
Mr Glover bought the winery in 1999 and, with the help of his late father, planted the seeds in 2003. The land was classified as a rural zone which allowed him to have a restaurant on it. In 2004 the land was rezoned to a green wedge, prohibiting the restaurant from continuing.
“All I want is an amendment or for Casey Council to help me out,” he said. “It was my dad’s dying wish for me to keep the winery going.”
Mr Glover, who also works at a Narre Warren earth moving company, had a 10-year plan for the winery and hoped to hire Alex Almatrah, a chef who has recipes published in a book by high-profile chef Jamie Oliver.
“Alex was keen to work here and the plan was to have a restaurant with high quality food, musicians, weddings, birthday parties,” Mr Glover said.
“I have a wonderful business that could attract tourists and create another 10 to 15 jobs. But instead I was forced to sack six staff members and may have to get rid of the remaining four.”
Mr Glover said Cranbourne’s Bank of Queensland manager Noel Ridler stepped in and saved the business financially after the bad news hit.
“If it wasn’t for him, the business wouldn’t keep going,” he said. “He saved me.”
A Sydney investor has also offered to pour $1 million into the winery to help business when the policy is amended.
“How great would that be, if he could invest in the winery,” Mr Glover said.
“It would be a million dollars coming from New South Wales into the Victorian economy, helping create jobs and improve Casey business.”
Narre Warren Chamber of Commerce president Bob Burns said it was “frightening” that the State Government were intent on closing off a potential tourism industry in the City of Casey.
“If this winery can be successful in the long-term, Clyde could become another Yarra Valley,” he said.
“By basically forcing closure of the restaurant, they are throwing people out of work in Casey.
“I think the government needs to exercise some common sense.”
On Tuesday, council moved that the CEO request council officers from the planning department to work with Mr Glover to ensure all relevant planning applications were completed and submitted; process applications as a matter of urgency and report back to council’s planning committee with a recommendation; and write to Minister Planning the Honourable Justin Madden seeking an exemption for the business to operate in a Green Wedge Zone.