FOR more than a year the Granite Belt's successful wine industry and tourism trail have been complemented by locally brewed beer - and that relationship looks set to continue with plans for another brewery on the horizon.

At last week's monthly general council meeting, councillors voted to approve an application for the material change of use of a Donges Rd, Severnlea, property for a low impact industry or nanobrewery.

The proposal put to council was "to brew and sell fresh, unpasturised beer from the property".

The applicant, Brass Monkey Brewhouse, also indicated that the nanobrewery, once operating at full capacity, would produce 5.6 cubic metres of beer each year, which equates to 300 litres a week. Sales from the business would operate from Thursday to Monday from 10am-6pm.

Despite one objection to the development, SDRC senior planning officer Angela O'Mara said neighbouring properties should not be worried.

"The proposed development will not result in a change in the zoning of the subject, or surrounding, properties," she said in her report.

She also noted that any increased traffic would not affect the road.

Ms O'Mara said that arrangements had been made to bring the existing access to the road up to standard.

Councillor Vic Pennisi said he supported the application.

"Any new products that bring people into our region, and that give them another reason to come, is what tourism is all about," he said.