A microbrewery and family restaurant on the Busselton foreshore is another step closer with the business owners Geographe Bay Brewing Co meeting all pre-lease agreement milestones with the City of Busselton.
Geographe Bay Brewing Co. is a consortium comprised of the Credaro and Packard-Hair families who secured a long term lease on the foreshore.
The owners can now progress with construction as soon as the lease has been executed and a building permit has been obtained.
The two storey development will encompass a fully operational microbrewery and will be located between the new amphitheatre and Railway House on the foreshore.
The overall footprint will be around 1,881 square metres, housing the microbrewery and encompassing a family-style restaurant, upstairs function centre, alfresco dining options and wide sweeping verandas.
It will complement the coastal environment and existing buildings with links to the area's rich history and will add some theatre to the foreshore with an operational microbrewery in public view.
The owners have revisited earlier design concepts and are drawing inspiration from some of the original foreshore structures dating back to the early 1900s.
The architect's drawing will be made available for public viewing as soon as possible.
Development of a family-style microbrewery has been a key feature of the Busselton Foreshore Masterplan since the plan was developed in consultation with the community a decade ago.
The proposal has taken longer than anticipated to finalise, but now it has become unconditional it brings completion of the master plan another step closer.
City of Busselton mayor Grant Henley said that they had been patient with the proponents and that this patience has not been ill-founded.
"We provided extra time for the proponents to undertake all the due diligence necessary in relation to estimated costs and financing arrangements," he said.
"They've used this time wisely and have consolidated their position. We're exceptionally pleased for them and for the community and visitors to the area who will benefit from this wonderful new foreshore facility."
The Credaro and Packard-Hair families advised they were excited to be involved in the Busselton foreshore redevelopment as two families joining forces to progress the new brewery and grow a successful business.
"The brewery has been a long time coming and we look forward to delivering this exciting development," a spokesperson said.
"It is important to also note that funds generated through rental income associated with the microbrewery site will go directly into foreshore and jetty maintenance and revitalisation programs."
"This will relieve pressure on ratepayers to fund these major assets into the future.
"Of course another positive outcome is the benefit to the local economy in terms of job creation."