The Palaszczuk government has ensured one of Queensland's favorite beers will continue to flow off the production line at the iconic and historic XXXX Brewery at Milton for many years to come, while securing 150 local Queensland jobs.
Minister for Planning, Cameron Dick, said a 15-year extension to the registration for the Brewery would help secure the ongoing operations of the Milton brewery.
"I have approved an extension to the current registration, under section 267 of the Planning Act, to allow the brewery to continue to operate," Mr Dick said.
"While I don't make these decisions lightly, my top priority as Minister is to secure and grow jobs in Queensland.
"This 15-year extension will give certainty to the company, so it can continue to operate into the future within approved limits.
"More importantly, this decision provides certainty to the 150 workers at the brewery, and their families."
Mr Dick said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to protecting manufacturing operations across the state.
"This enables Lion to continue operating from the same premises that has been home to XXXX for more than 140 years, by ensuring that existing uses on the site can continue, even as the area experiences growth intensification," he said.
"The large brick building with the prominent red XXXX sign illuminated and Mr Fourex, are part of our history, which we are preserving and continuing with this urban encroachment registration."
Mr Dick said the approval still requires the brewery to meet all the conditions of existing approvals and environmental permits.
"With a resurgence in inner city living it's important to ensure that important existing uses, such as the XXXX brewery, can continue to operate," he said.
"In more recent years Milton has seen an increase in new residential and commercial buildings and the urban encroachment registration is about confirming the expectations for the brewery and residents and tenants in the surrounding area.
"The popularity of the area shows that residences and this type of commercial manufacturing can exist side by side, and today's decision is about ensuring a balanced and reasonable outcome for all parties into the future.
"This will ensure the brewery can continue to operate without the concern of being located in a suburb where the majority of land is not used for industrial production."
Lion Group Supply Chain Director, Ian Roberts, who started working with Lion 28 years ago in the Milton factory, said the decision provided much needed certainty for the business and its employees.
"Since 2009, we have spent millions of dollars on improvements to the brewery to limit our environmental impact. Just a few weeks ago we completed a $2 million solar project, which will reduce our annual carbon emissions by 1260 tonnes," Roberts said.
"We have also significantly reduced our already low noise and light emissions, all of which are well within the limits allowed under our development consents, in order to continue being great neighbours.
"20 years ago, Milton looked very different to how it does today. Previously it had been an industrial epicentre, but its proximity to the Brisbane CBD made it the perfect location for high-density residential developments" added Roberts.
