APPROVAL of the McWilliam’s group’s planned $53 million expansion of its Hanwood winery could support the creation of more than 100 new jobs at the Griffith facility.
The NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI) signed off on the project last week, which will almost double the winery’s capacity.
The expansion includes:
- An increase in the winery crush capacity from 34,000 to 65,000 tonnes per annum (over a 15 year period)
- Construction and operation of an on site bottling and packaging facility, which currently takes place in Sydney
- Creation of 84 new permanent jobs and 28 casual positions
- Upgrades to the site’s wastewater treatment system, chiller and barrel door infrastructure
In a boost to the facility’s environmental credentials, the expansion will also enable the treatment and reuse of the winery’s waste water on its vineyards.
The department’s executive director of Development Assessment Systems and Approvals, Chris Wilson, said the project would deliver important local benefits while reducing local impacts at the same time.
“Our assessment of the project gave careful consideration to important factors such as odour and noise impacts on the surrounding community,” Mr Wilson said.
“And we found that the proposed upgrades will actually result in improvements to the facility’s ability to manage odour and noise issues.
“We’ve also imposed a number of strict conditions to ensure these improvements take place as the facility gradually increases its production.
“So the expansion will not only benefit the community through a boost to local jobs and investment, it will reduce local impacts as well.”
Mr Wilson said that following advice from Roads and Maritime Services, the approval also required an independent audit of the intersection at Kidman Way and Jack McWilliam Road to determine whether upgrades were required.
The Hanwood winery is the McWilliam’s Wine Group’s largest and processes grapes for table wine, fortified wine and sparkling wine for both domestic and international markets.