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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-03-23 Daily Xml
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Bickford's Renmark Redevelopment

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:46): I recently visited Bickford's Renmark site, where a significant redevelopment of the site is underway. I met with Bickford's Operations Manager, George Kotses, along with Marcus Woods, Operations Manager—Regional Sites, and Graham Buller, distillery manager, who took me over the site and gave me a briefing of the company's plans for the future of the site.

The redevelopment by South Australian beverage company Bickford's Australia will see the establishment of a new spirit distillery, visitor centre and cellar door in the Riverland. The redevelopment is sited at the old Renmano winery and distillery site which Bickford's purchased from Accolade Wines in 2013. Bickford's had previously purchased the Black Bottle and XO brandy labels from Accolade in 2011 and these have been added to their Vok range of products. Bickford's has a clear view of the redevelopment of the old Renmano site. They already have their bond store operational, where distilled product is maturing. This required installation of a positive ventilation system to the existing sheds on the site. Bickford's initial wish is to have their state-of-the-art distillery operational by mid this year, with a visitor centre and cellar door opening in the second half of this year.

Part of Bickford's redevelopment is being funded through a $2.36 million South Australian government grant from the Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund. The project is providing significant economic activity in the Riverland. It is a project that will provide significant benefits to the region in relation to tourism, the food industry and employment. There is also the potential to export products produced at the site. Bickford's is working hard to retain some of the heritage of the site by retaining the facade of the original distillery and refurbishing the iconic glass-covered distilling tower, which is being re-glazed. They will also bring back to life three large classic copper pot stills which were originally located at Accolade's Reynella site and were transferred to Accolade's Berri site.

Bickford's has a clear vision for the site, which includes establishing a function centre in the future and potentially processing pomegranate juice from their Wanbi property. It is expected that the distillery will create a new market for Riverland grain and grapes, with their purchases from local growers leading to additional economic growth in these regional communities. Apart from providing local jobs, the project will see key spirit brands, such as Black Bottle Brandy, continue to be distilled, matured and bottled in South Australia, as well as replacing Bickford's need to import significant volumes of distillate for its other key trademark products.

The Bickford's Renmark project was the recipient of the final grant delivered through the four-year $20 million Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund. The fund successfully delivered what the government promised as part of its 2010 election commitment. I have had the pleasure of visiting a number of recipients of grants from the Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund and I have been impressed by the recipients' desire to expand and innovate in building their businesses.

The futures fund has brought significant new business and development and has boosted tourism and economic diversity in the Riverland region. All told, projects funded through the Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund are expected to create around 235 jobs and generate up to $48 million in investment in the Riverland region. The fund has also allowed the state government to leverage additional significant extra funding from the federal government, by withholding the release of the final portion of the fund.

The Riverland Sustainable Futures Fund has provided the Riverland region with a significant economic boost, particularly during a period when the region was struggling during the millennium drought. I thank Bickford's management for taking the time to show me their vision for the Bickford's Renmark site. They have a clear plan for the development of the site, which I am sure will add significantly to the Riverland local economy.

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