INVERELL could become the site of a whisky distillery using top quality malting barley from the Delungra area, if the plans of the Inverell Regional Business Enterprise Centre (BEC) come to fruition.

The idea has been in an early research stage for about three years, but was recently revived when members of the BEC attended the launch of a small and medium business research project at the University of New England.

One of the speakers was an economic development officer employed by the Welsh government named Brian Morgan, whose aim was to create better business links between Wales and NSW. He also had an interest in a whisky distillery in his home country, and said he would be happy to provide advice and support to anyone setting up a similar enterprise in this area.

BEC director Councillor Di Baker said all the factors were right in this area to produce whisky, including the right type of water.

In fact, she said Delungra boasted the southern hemisphere's best malting barley.

"It's the right mix of climate and natural soil elements that makes good malting barley, so it's not easy. You have to get everything right.”

Di said she knew of only one whisky distillery in Australia, and that was a relatively small operation in Tasmania.

"The tourist potential (of a distillery in Inverell) is huge, and so is the potential as an income earner.

"Any opportunity Inverell shire has to improve its potential for earning income and value adding to a locally produced product is really something we should explore further.

Di said the whisky would also have a conveniently nearby market in Japan and China, where the demand for single malt whisky was steadily increasing.

Di said if the project succeeds, it could employ about 15 people in the distillery, plus a few extra people to give guided tours. Several farmers would also be contracted out to supply the malting barley.

The BEC will now continue its studies into the viability of the project, which could take some time.

© 2002 Inverell Times

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