Sunshine Coast brewery ordered to halt operations as council reviews approval; owners face court

Sunshine Coast Council has ordered Terella Brewing, a family-oriented brewery on a working farm at North Arm, to cease operations while it reviews a Material Change of Use (MCU) application, the brewery’s owners said, triggering an intensifying legal dispute that will see the directors appear in court.

Owners Brandt Bamford and Ash Thompson said the enforcement notice has forced them to stop trading while the MCU is assessed and has already cost the business "hundreds of thousands" of dollars in plans, reports and application fees. The pair have appealed the enforcement notice and face separate personal proceedings in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Sept. 11 for alleged breaches of the Planning Act.

Terella Brewing was established after the couple, who run a 27-hectare working farm, were told in 2019 by council officers that a brewery would suit the property. For six years the venue has offered a taproom, fresh beer and non-alcoholic drinks, monthly community markets and family activities that include supervised interaction with rescue animals and open lawn space.

In 2023 a neighbouring property owner complained about noise and traffic. The brewery said it introduced a traffic management plan and noise control measures to address the concerns. Council later requested the business submit a Material Change of Use application, which is required when there is a material change in the intensity or scale of use of a premises.

While the MCU remains under investigation, council issued an enforcement notice requiring operations to cease. Terella’s owners appealed that notice and say the council has launched personal legal action against the directors. The business said defending simultaneous court actions is "brutally expensive and time-sensitive."

The owners say a forced pause in trading would devastate the business and ripple through the local economy. Terella employs 47 staff and works with local growers, makers, artists, stallholders and musicians. The brewery said a shutdown could lead to job losses, the rehoming of farm animals and financial harm to suppliers and regular market traders.

"We can’t let that happen, but defending simultaneous court actions is brutally expensive and time-sensitive," the directors said in a joint statement. Bamford told national television he was emotional over the order and warned that the practical realities of hospitality made it impossible simply to pause operations without severe consequences for staff and the site's viability.

The local community has rallied to support the brewery. Organisers said more than $27,000 had been raised for the business's legal expenses and staff have worn "Save Terella Brewing" shirts. Online posts from residents called on the council to reconsider its action, saying the venue supports local employment and regional profile.

Sunshine Coast Council has required the MCU application to determine whether the current scale and intensity of activity at the property complies with planning rules. The council’s enforcement action reflects its statutory responsibilities to regulate land use while applications are assessed and to address complaints from neighbours.

Representatives for Terella say they invested heavily in the business after the 2019 advice and now face the prospect of losing that investment if trading is suspended. The company emphasised that Terella is not operated as a conventional suburban pub but as a family-focused farm experience.

Daily Mail has contacted Sunshine Coast Council for comment.