The Andrews Labor Government today announced its support to establish an Australian Craft Beer Centre of Excellence in Ballarat, creating 25 new jobs benefiting beer enthusiasts, locals and tourists alike keen to sample the regions finest brew.
Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford and Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight today met with craft beer enthusiasts at hospitality venue Hop Temple, to hear how the project will create jobs and attract more people to Ballarat.
It will capitalise on the rapidly growing interest in brewing and build on the region’s rich history of craft beer production to create a new tourism experience, while importantly creating new jobs.
The new Australian Craft Beer Centre of Excellence will include a craft brewery, a beer tasting and bar area, a teaching space and a function area which will attract a broad range of visitors.
A key feature of the Centre will be the ‘brew space’, where small brewers will be able to receive advice on how to improve their brewing technique, develop their business and test the market which will help niche brewers expand.
The Australian Craft Beer Centre of Excellence is working closely with Federation University, which has been leading brewing education for more than 45 years, to develop suitable training courses to be delivered through the Centre.
The project will help diversify Ballarat’s tourism offering and strengthen the Labor Government’s efforts to activate the CBD.
The visitor economy is crucial to the future economic development of regional and rural Victoria with the sector contributing $11.5 billion to the regional economy and generating 114,400 jobs annually.
The Labor Government’s Regional Tourism and Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) is investing in growing the visitor economy across regional Victoria by facilitating the development of iconic regional tourism projects that create world-class tourism experiences and boost the regional economy.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“This project combines two of Victoria’s greatest passions; jobs and beer.”
“We’re accelerating the delivery of investment ready, high impact tourism projects that will help drive visitation to regional Victoria - creating jobs and boosting the economy.”
Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight
“Ballarat is well and truly on the map as the craft beer capital of Victoria and soon, people will have new ways to learn about and appreciate the region’s brewing strengths.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020