From beer to hand sanitiser for Geelong brewery
The Bellarine Brewing Co in Geelong is looking to start producing hand sanitisers in an effort to keep the business afloat during the temporary ban on venues throughout the nation.
The brewery is just waiting on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to fast track the required permit.
“We have seen a massive downturn in business since the COVID 19 outbreak as we supply to a lot of large events and venues,” Brewing Co director Tim Page-Walker said in a letter to Labor MP Richard Marles. “This downturn has forced us to stop all casual employment and consider closing our business.
“If we are successful in obtaining the required permit, we will have a hand sanitiser product ready for distribution within 24 hours and continue supply daily thereafter.
“We will continue to employ our full-time, part time and casual staff to manufacture and package the hand sanitiser. We may even have the need to employ more people to aid in local sales and distribution.
“More importantly, this short-term initiative may keep our business viable and enable us to continue growing our business in Geelong creating more and more employment opportunities into the future.”
Marles said he was working to “get this across the line as quick as possible”.
“If Tim and his team can have their application fast tracked, they can start manufacturing almost immediately, will be able to provide critically needed hand sanitiser, can continue to employee and pay staff with the possibility of having to hire more,” he told the Geelong Advertiser.
Sheridan Randall, 24th March 2020
