The Inner West Council are cutting red tape for microbreweries in order to support the rapid growth of the booming local industry.
Mayor Darcy Byrne has big plans for the region, and argues that legislation needs to keep up.
“Over the last few years, craft brewing has exploded in the Inner West, with more than a dozen micro breweries currently in operation and many more in the planning stage,” Byrne said.
“I want the Inner West to be for craft beer what the Hunter Valley is for Australian wine.
“Until now, this growth has been entirely organic, driven purely by Inner West locals’ love of craft beer, but there is a real danger that outdated regulations could kill the industry off.
“Red tape is inhibiting further growth in the craft brewing industry, with new brewers struggling to get applications processed and licensing restrictions causing headaches for owners once a brewery is open.”
The council are also planning the establish an annual Inner West Craft Beer Festival, and tourist trails – both of which will further cement the area’s reputation as a craft brewery hub.
As the council’s press release points out, the Inner West may already be the country’s microbrew capital, with the highest density of micro breweries in the whole of Australia – employing over 200 people.
