Go for more winery beds

By Tania Martin
A SHIRE of Yarra Ranges councillor last week raised concerns over the approval of additional accommodation for a winery in Dixons Creek, while others argued it would benefit the Yarra Valley.
The council last week approved a proposal for Immerse Winery in Dixons Creek for the construction of nine accommodation units.
Walling Ward councillor Len Cox said that accommodation units should be left in townships and not at wineries or in rural areas.
“Accommodation should be in towns not on our rural properties, otherwise we will have townships popping up everywhere and the Yarra Valley will be dotted with units all the way along the highway,” he said.
But Ryrie Ward councillor Jeanette McRae said the development would provide a good example of how accommodation and a winery can work together to offer an integrated tourism experience for visitors and residents.
Cr McRae said the accommodation development would be great for tourism in the Yarra Valley and would offer local and interstate visitors the opportunity to stay in the Valley after experiencing an enjoyable day of grape grazing or dinner at one of the wineries.
Immerse Winery currently operates a vineyard, restaurant, has cellar door sales, visitor accommodation, a day spa facility and ornamental lake and rose gardens.
The accommodation upgrade will see the development of nine accommodation units, including three two-bedroom cottages, six two-bedroom villas and one 12-bedroom accommodation unit.
A tennis court, the conversion of the manager’s residence into group accommodation, and additional car parking is also part of the development.
Yarra Valley Tourism Information Centre coordinator Margaret Baker said the additional accommodation would be a great asset for tourism in the area.
Ms Baker said the 12-bed room unit would be very beneficial as she gets a lot of queries about group accommodation bookings.
She said one of the main benefits would be for those attending weddings at wineries in the area who need to find accommodation close by.
After notifying nearby residents of the proposed accommodation development, the council received five objections.
The main concerns raised by residents were that the development would pose a risk to the amenity of the area.
A spokesman for the objectors, Graeme Millar, last week told the council that the nearby residents where extremely concerned about the proposed development.
Mr Millar said the construction of the accommodation would constitute a resort-type development and would be inappropriate for the area.
He said the area surrounding Immerse Winery was classified as a rural area and that the accommodation would be out of character.
However, the spokesman for the developer, Steve Kalor, of JCA Land Consultants, said the applicant had gone to considerable trouble to address all the residents concerns.
“The applicant has gone to great lengths to fit in with the guidelines and the amenity of the area,” he said.