Mount Alexander Shire councillors will next week decide whether to approve an application to increase the patronage of Sutton Grange Winery to 15,000.
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If approved, the winery could expand its events area and increase patronage from 6000 to 15,000 people.
The decision to grant amendments to the existing permit will be made at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Sutton Grange Winery applied for the variation of the planning permit to allow for an increased audience size for the planned Neil Diamond concert in March.
In January, Diamond cancelled his tour after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
It is hoped the amendments to the planning permit – particularly the increased patronage – would help attract world-class acts to the area.
“We are thrilled that literally thousands of local and regional residents bought tickets to the event demonstrating there is good support locally for the concert,” Sutton Grange Winery said in a statement in January.
“Over the last seven years we have operated concerts under a duly authorized council permit.’’
About 50 people attended a community information session in December with a number of residents supporting the plans.
Two objections have been received, relating to a number of issues including increased patrons in the area adding to the bushfire threat, noise, traffic management, increased crime and loss of amenity in this rural setting.
Sutton Grange resident Naomi Hewitt-Ware said large scale events would have negative impacts on the farming area.
“Many local residents feel the area, a small farming community, is simply not amenable for events of this large scale,” she said.
“With negative impact on residents, livestock, the local environment and the increased threat of fire especially concerning, particularly when events are being held throughout warmer months, when the landscape is so dry.
“There are also concerns about ongoing disturbance for local residents if this is approved, as the permit amendment that was recently submitted is for permission to hold up to six of these large scale events per year.”