After long delays, Kiama Brewpub has finally had its development application approved, according to Region Illawarra. Co-owners Neil Menzies and Sam Haldane bought the property two and half years ago and will be proceeding with a brewpub rather than production brewery for zoning reasons. The premises will also feature a full restaurant, function space, beer garden, kids play area, and large bar with 20 different taps, including housemade beers, seltzers, South Coast brewery beers and soft drinks. “It’ll be a bit different to your typical local pub – we’re trying to make it a bit more of a community hub,” Haldane said. The brewery will be situated in a former Holden dealership at 35 Collins Street, Kiama.

Pioneer Brewing Co, a farm-based brewery in Central West NSW, announced in late August that it had officially closed and ceased trading.

Broken Bay Brewing Co. received council approval for its site around three weeks ago after announcing in July that it was expecting to open in Brookvale “this Summer.” However, the owners were given a list of 77 items they are required to address before they start construction, according to co-founder Andrew Forster’s Instagram video. In the video, he said that they have discovered it will cost about $46,000 to get the reports necessary to secure their construction certificate. He noted that this isn’t within their budget and they have been forced to rework their plans. 

Clarence Valley Council approved Grafton Brewery’s development application for a craft brewery, distillery and coffee roastery last month; however, the $1.7 million plans for the historic brewery could be in disarray because the council imposed more than 100 conditions, including operating hour limitations. Owner Rick Firth is seeking legal advice and may lodge an appeal via the Land and Environment Court. Firth told The Daily Telegraph that “what should have been a straightforward approval process has taken almost nine months, cost [him] hundreds-of-thousands of extra dollars, and imposes 101 conditions.”