CHANGES to liquor reforms will benefit producers and visitors alike, says Your Margaret River Region chief executive officer Pip Close.
The comments come after the state government announcing that WA’s Liquor Laws will be “modernised” as part of in the inaugural 2015 Red Tape Reduction Report Card.
The changes under the Liquor Legislation Amendment Act 2015 will enable beer and wine producers to establish a second cellar door operation or collective cellar door with other producers within the same region off-site.
“The ability to establish a second or collective cellar door is quite an exciting prospect for the region,” Ms Close said.
“In particular, it would allow smaller producers that may not be able to afford the overheads of their own cellar door to band together with like-minded producers and get their wine in front of visitors.
“For visitors, it will mean getting to try small batch wines that they may not have had easy access to in the past, and greater convenience.”
The news comes off the back of the federal government’s China-Australia Free Trade Agreement which will allow wineries greater export opportunities.
Howard Park Wines chief executive Jeff Burch said there would be great flow on effects for the region.
“As an industry we are moving into better times and Margaret River has the ability to become leading wine region in WA,” he said.
Racing and gaming minister Colin Holt said the state changes would also allow hotels to trade until midnight on Sundays, an extension of two hours - while nightclubs will be permitted to trade through to 2am of the following Monday morning.
"The changes recognise modern community expectations and the seven-day week economy," he said.
The minister said other changes included a provision for all producers to sell alcohol other than their own, ancillary to a meal or for comparative tasting, and allowing beer producers to sell their product for consumption (not just tasting) on a licensed premises between 10am and 10pm.
