Expressions of interest sought for Batlow Cannery Site
Published on 15 October 2018
Snowy Valleys Council is seeking expressions of interest from commercial entities interested in redeveloping the disused Batlow Cannery site.
Council’s Director of Strategy, Community and Development Gus Cox said the site presents multiple opportunities for the right party or multiple parties.
“The cannery building provides an opportunity to create a food and beverage experience with strong links to the local produce history of the region,” Mr Cox said. “Development does not need to be limited to tourism-related activities, but could include small boutique scale uses such as manufacturing, retail, food, or arts and crafts.”
Council purchased the dilapidated site in September with funds from the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Major Infrastructure Fund following community consultation that identified the improvement of the derelict site as a priority for the Batlow community.
“The conversion of the former Batlow Cannery site into a cidery experience has been identified in Snowy Valleys Council’s Destination Management Plan and in the Destination Riverina Murray’s Destination Management Plan as a ‘tier 1’ priority project,” Mr Cox said.
“So we’re interested in receiving proposals from commercial interests who will actively pursue redeveloping of the site as soon as practically possible.
“We are looking for innovative and exciting proposals that will contribute to economic growth in the area, and particularly to the creation of new employment opportunities for residents of Batlow.
“The use of the premises should add to the social and economic wellbeing of Batlow, and be consistent with Snowy Valleys Council’s draft economic development strategy.”
The industrial site comprising approximately 2.5 hectares, operated as the Mountain Maid cannery up until the early 2000’s. Since its closing, the property has sat idle with a number of large industrial buildings falling into a poor state of repair.
Expressions of Interest close at 5pm on Friday November 16, 2018. For further enquiries please contact Council’s Coordinator Tourism & Economic Development Georgia MacDougall on 02 6948 9118 or [email protected].