Cider is set to reinvigorate the old Learmonth Primary School.
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Work is well underway to transform the site into a brewing education and training facility with an apple orchard on land at the back.
But new special conditions on a planning permit has held up original plans for elements of the centre to be operational by December.
321 Cider co-owner Philip Cormie said the project’s leaders had applied to City of Ballarat for a staged permit, with hopes training at the facility can begin in February.
“The training courses are ready to go starting in February next year if a staged permit is approved,” he said.
Further work on building car parks and planting the orchard would follow.
Under the plans, a brewing training centre will operate in the old school building, while an apple orchard will be planted on land out the back. Cider making equipment is expected to be set up in the second newer school building.
We need to have more people who know how to operate cider making from beginning to end, from propagating a tree to selling the finished product.
- Philip Cormie, 321 Cider
The school has been empty since 2012 when it was closed by the Department of Education due to a dwindling attendance rate.
Owners of 321 cider purchased the site in late 2017, after receiving community support.
More than 100 people attended a community meeting in Learmonth on October 26 to hear an update on progress. Many have supported the continued use of the historical school for educational purposes and are looking forward to the economic benefits for the quiet town.
Mr Cormie said the brewing education and training facility would create 10 full-time equivalent jobs and $250,000 per annum social benefits when fully operational through employment and visitors to the facility staying and eating locally.
One element of the business model includes a foundation to support other local community projects.
Mr Cormie’s move to establish the cider education facility comes after more than 18 years of creating cider from the the family’s Learmonth property Spring Vale Farm.
The Cormie family had no plans to become cider-producers when they purchased the farm in 1996, but planted apple trees after Mr Cormie developed a love for cider while travelling overseas.
Now with 1000 cider apple trees, the family produce around 15,000 bottles of 321 Cider each year.
