Winery’s green light

By Kath Gannaway
THE green light for the long-awaited opening of Innocent Bystander winery in Healesville on the weekend came in the guise of two sets of temporary flashing amber lights.
Shire of Yarra Ranges’ Cr Jeanette McRae moved two motions at the council meeting on 22 August. The first, supporting a request from VicRoads for an amendment to the shire’s planning permit allowing temporary lights to be used at the pedestrian crossing adjacent to the winery in Maroondah Highway.
VicRoads sought the amendment on behalf of the developer, Ian Braham of Rationale Retail Solutions, after VicRoads upgraded its initial requirement for a conventional pedestrian crossing to a full flashing lights “walking legs” crossing.
The second, was a bid to bring together the shire, the local community and the winery to discuss what Cr McRae said was ongoing community dissatisfaction with the north-facing wall.
The final requirements for the crossing will include fixed flashing lights, safety fencing and upgraded lighting, to be completed by the end of October.
Cr McRae said it was recognised that the developer was not told of changes to the crossing until the eleventh hour and that it was seen by the council as being inequitable for the opening to be held up, penalising the developer, for a situation which was beyond his control.
“It was good to be able to come to this type of solution,” she said. “We really appreciate the work the developers have gone to to ensure pedestrian safety until the permanent works can be put in place.”
Corinna Thompson, marketing assistant with Innocent Bystander, told the Mail they were thrilled with the decision that meant they could open. “It was a great outcome and everyone was very helpful and keen to find a working solution, which is what happened,” she said.
The crossing was used by a steady flow of winery patrons on Saturday and Sunday, including local resident, 86-year-old Mickey Buckle.
Mrs Buckle had walked down from the Lions Village in Don Road and said she was relieved to have an alternative to crossing the highway at Don Road.
“I feel much safer crossing Don Road at the Village where you can see both ways for quite a distance and then using this crossing with the lights.”
She said as a resident, who had lived at the Village for eight years, she felt the winery was an improvement of the site. “I would have liked to see a bit of colour on the wall but I think the trees will make a difference once they grow a bit,” she said addressing Cr McRae’s second motion.
Cr McRae moved that the shire’s urban design unit contact the winery to request discussions on the possibility of a more appropriate treatment of the concrete facade.
She said while she felt there was good support for the development, people were still unhappy about the wall.
“I am constantly hearing comments about it, otherwise I would not have raised the issue,” Cr McRae told the Mail.
She said the concerns include the starkness of the wall, the potential for graffiti, the fact that the etchings disappear when they are wet and that it is generally unclear what they represent.
Cr McRae said she felt the fact the winery operators were willing to engage in some form of community discussion could be a factor in the community fully embracing the development.
“We are trying to work together in a spirit of cooperation looking at the fact that the community does have concerns and that if there are any opportunities then we would like to explore them,” She said.
Ms Thompson said the opening had been planned as a soft opening, not a launch and added that everyone was delighted with the weekend.
“This is a showcase for the winery and the wines,” she said. “We want people to come in, experience what we have here, taste the wines and meet the team.”
Ms Thompson said she was not in a position to comment on Cr McRae’s proposal for discussions on the wall.
“We would, of course, look at any letter sent to us but in terms of providing a response and any discussion that would depend on what is being asked of us,” she said.
The winery is open from 8am to 6pm, Thursdays to Monday.