Distillery Door Program
The Distillery Door Program (the Program) seeks to support and enhance Victoria’s distillery industry. With $20 million allocated through State Budgets for FY2021-22 ($10 million to establish) and FY2023-24 ($10 million to expand), the Program is managed in partnership with industry and will run over 4 years.
The Program is supported by the Distillery Door Working Group, whose membership includes key stakeholders Spirits Victoria Association and the Australian Distillers Association, and further industry and government representation.
Delivery of the Program is under four streams:
- Skills Development – including industry analysis, the development of an education pathway and the employment of an Industry Development Officer
- Boosting the Visitor Economy – delivering grants, regional collaboration and tourism development. Eligible distillers have been awarded total funding of $4.05 million to establish, enhance or promote a distillery door, increasing visitation
- Infrastructure and Safety – supporting distilleries to improve infrastructure to expand, diversify and become more efficient and safer. Eligible distillers have been awarded total funding of $1.3 million to increase business capability and efficiency through investment and improvements in on-site infrastructure
- Export capability– undertaking export analysis, improving export capabilities and increasing the international profile of Victorian spirits.
Available funding
The Program opens on 27 November 2023 and closes at 5.00 pm on 30 September 2024, or until funds are fully subscribed (whichever occurs first). Eligible assessments and costs incurred from 1 April 2023 until the closing date can be claimed,
The Hazardous Areas and Dangerous Goods Rebate will assist distillers of alcoholic beverages to invest in equipment and infrastructure to improve safety in distilleries.
A Rebate of up to 70% or 80% of the total eligible expenditure (GST exclusive) or up to the maximum of $50,000 (GST exclusive), whichever is the lesser amount, is available for equipment and infrastructure that will support improvements to safety in distilleries.
Applicants will be required to make a cash co-contribution of a minimum of 20% or 30% of the total eligible expenditure on infrastructure and equipment on the project.
Co-contribution will be:
- 20% cash co-contribution if no more than 10,000 litres of alcohol produced in the 2022-23 financial year
- 30% cash co-contribution if greater than 10,000 litres of alcohol produced in the 2022-23 financial year
Co-contributions must be cash. In-kind contributions such as labour are not included. Any additional or ineligible costs associated with the overall project must be met by the applicant.
Download the program guidelines:
Frequently asked questions
This program may provide a Rebate up to the value of $50,000 (GST exclusive) of eligible costs associated with one or more of these activities:
- Costs associated with having a Hazardous Area Assessment or Dangerous Goods Audit undertaken
- Purchase and installation of equipment and infrastructure as recommended in either a Hazardous Area Assessment, Dangerous Goods Audit, OHS Essentials Program relating to hazardous areas and dangerous goods, or assessment by a Worksafe dangerous goods inspector undertaken from 1 April 2023 until closing date
- Training specific to the technology for safe operation of equipment recommended (external costs only)
All funded activities must comply with Australian Standards (including installation) where required by regulation. Installations must comply with the manufacturer’s instructions and use licensed tradesmen when required by legislation, council regulation or the manufacturer’s instructions. This is the responsibility of the recipient; the Department is not liable in any way in relation to or in connection with the project, other than as expressed in these Guidelines.
As this is a Rebate program, all costs must be incurred before applying. If you have any concerns about item eligibility, please contact the Distillery Door Program team at distilleryprogram@agriculture.vic.gov.au PRIOR TO making your purchase.
There is no guarantee that any application for a Rebate will be supported.
You will receive an automated email, stating your application has been received.
Applicants will be advised in writing via email of the outcome of their application within three weeks from lodgement, however this may take longer if large volumes of applications are received.
- New or replacement stills
- Items not recommended in either a Hazardous Area Assessment, Dangerous Goods Audit, OHS Essentials Program relating to hazardous areas and dangerous goods, or assessment by a Worksafe dangerous goods inspector
- Items pertaining to brewing, wine making and other beverage production
- Motorised transport vehicles (eg. forklifts, trucks, utes, etc) or vehicle associated costs
- Routine maintenance costs
- Internal costs, salaries or resources of the Recipient
- Fees associated with permits for planning or annual certification
- Costs associated with applying for government grants and funding programs
- Basic professional services such as ongoing, routine accounting, tax and legal business requirements, licensing, legal/intellectual property costs, financing fees
- Travel costs
- Any administrative fees or surcharges for administering the expenditures listed above; or
- Any other expenditure as determined by the Department that does not meet the Program guidelines or objectives.
- A copy of your current ATO Manufacturer’s Licence to produce distilled alcoholic beverages
- A copy of your current Victorian General or Producer’s Liquor Licence
- A copy of one of the following: Hazardous Area Assessment, Dangerous Goods Audit, OHS Essentials Program relating to hazardous areas and dangerous goods, or assessment by a WorkSafe dangerous goods inspector - undertaken from 1 April 2023 until closing date
- Copies of invoices and receipts for eligible expenditure as recommended in the above assessment - undertaken from 1 April until closing date
- A Statutory Declaration attesting to the total costs
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A legal entity has legal capacity to enter into agreements or contracts, assume obligations, incur and pay debts, sue and be sued in its own right, and to be held responsible for its actions.
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