A boost for wine tourism in Heathcote

WINE tourism in Heathcote has been given a boost through the latest round of the Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grant program.

Wild Duck Creek Estate is one of more than 200 wine and cellar door businesses across Australia to benefit from the grant.

Grants will help to support producers to invest in infrastructure upgrades to improve their cellar doors to host additional wine events to attract visitors.

The $55,916 received by Wild Duck Creek Estate will be used to renovate a building to be utilised as their cellar door.

This includes floor sanding and finishing, installation of cabinetry and the creating of a wheelchair access pathway from the carpark.

“This grant program demonstrates the Federal Labor Government’s commitment to the growth and success of the wine and cider industries,” said Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters.

“It provides support to Bendigo’s wine businesses, including those that have faced challenges in recent years.

“Funding like this is building on our government’s work to rebuild trade around the world and provides crucial support for the industry to thrive well into the future.”

Wineries around Australia will share in $10 million of new funding, including 43 wineries in Victoria.

The Bendigo electorate is home to over 2000 wineries, 6000 grape growers and 65 wine regions.

While international demand for Australian wine is increasing the Federal Labor Government is committed to helping Australia’s grape and wine sector thrive and is also delivering a multimillion package to boost the sector’s long-term viability.

The Government’s $3.5 million Grape and Wine Sector Long-Term Viability Package includes the establishment of a new National Vineyard Register and an independent impact analysis of the sector’s current rules concerning fair trading, competitive relationships, contracting practices and risk allocation.