Albany distiller ponders move to Margaret River

The Great Southern Distilling Company is considering leaving Albany for a more business-friendly environment in Margaret River, owner Cameron Syme says.

The award-winning distillery has been in operation since 2004 in Albany and now employs 14 people and has more than $15 million invested in the region.

Mr Syme said the company was planning on large expansions over the next decade, but key stakeholders in the region were not backing them, namely the Great Southern Development Commission.

“We have plans to significantly increase investment and employment over the next decade,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have not obtained support from the development commission and without that support we have to consider whether to continue investing and growing in this region,” he said.

The distillery is frustrated after being left out of the GSDC Regional Investment Blueprint and other planning documents.

“It will be almost impossible to secure government grant funding or support and much more difficult to gain exposure as a key player in our tertiary industry,” Mr Syme said.

“Unfortunately, our view of our experience with the development commission and some other key stakeholders is that our investment in this region, and our contribution to build the region’s tourism industry, is not welcome.”

GSDC chief executive Bruce Manning said private businesses were not included in the Investment Blueprint.

“The blueprint’s focus is on how the different levels of government will co-ordinate infrastructure development and services delivery … as such, individual private-sector companies are not highlighted,” he said.

“The GSDC values all businesses included in the range of sectors that make up the region’s economy and consistently interacts with them in an equitable way.”