Broo coming to Ballarat with world's greenest brewery

Broo beer company, which also acquired the Mildura Brewery this month, will build the “world’s greenest brewery” at Ballarat west’s industrial hub.

The brewery is expected to create 100 ongoing jobs and will be powered by energy generated onsite through solar panels, wind turbines and bio gas. 

The water for the brewing process will be sourced from an underground aquifer under site, which is expected to save 300 million litres of water a year compared to regular brewing methods.

“We are committed to integrating a raft of state-of-the-art environmentally sustainable technologies that will help preserve our environment, conserve our resources and use our energy efficiently to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enable carbon neutral beer production,” Broo founder Kent Grogan said.

The project has a forecast tourism value of $16.5 million a year. Construction is expected to start in February 2018.

The beer company showed entrepreneurial flair in 2011 when buyers of a carton of beer were each given 10 shares. The business was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in October last year. 

The company has been in a trading halt until Friday’s announcement. Broo entered into a production and distribution deal with China – home to the world’s most competitive beer market – within months of being listed on the ASX. 

The state government will announce Broo’s tenancy and name a fifth tenant for the site on Friday. 

So far only Ballarat West Employment Zone’s anchor tenant Broadbent Grain has begun onsite construction, with tenants Agrimac and Kane Transport yet to turn a sod. 

The project entered into its second stage in early January after an initial release of 35 hectares. 

The $30 million joint initiative between City of Ballarat and the state government is expected to generate 9000 jobs in the long term.