An ambitious plan to create a memorable tourism experience just outside of Griffith is well and truly underway.
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At the most recent council meeting, Piccolo Family Farm received approval to build eight farm stay cottages and a cellar door on their land.
The cottages will allow tourists to the Riverina to get a first-hand experience of one of the region's most unique properties.
Peter Piccolo's farm provides almost all the produce for their family businesses, Limone Dining and Miei Amici Cafe.
He hopes the accommodation will show off the old-fashioned approach the family has adopted in recent years.
"Griffith and the Riverina is incredible because it has incredible farming entities. But it's all large-scale production," Mr Piccolo said.
"A few years ago, we decided we're going to go backwards and we're going to become old-school."
"We started changing our ideas and prioritising the wellbeing of the fruit rather than how much we produce."
"We've got old tractors, old machinery and old trees."
As interest in their unique methods ramped up, Mr Piccolo noticed a gap in the market for a more traditional style of accommodation.
"People come to the Riverina from all over the world," he said.
"They don't want to stay in a motel, you can do that anywhere. They come out here because they want a real farm experience."
"With these cottages, we'll be able to give them just that. They'll be on the farm, and they'll be able to live it, breathe it, taste it and enjoy it."
Mr Piccolo also received approval to turn the century old homestead on the property into a cellar door.
Next month he plans to harvest his first crop of grapes, which will become various family wines to be served and sold out of the historic building.
The approval from council signals a major step forward for the project, which Mr Piccolo hopes to have up and running by spring 2021.
"We have been working extremely hard to tick all the right boxes," he said.
"We did everything we had to in order to comply with the rule book."
"It was a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of frustration, but it was a big sigh of relief at the meeting when common sense prevailed."
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Members of Griffith City Council were full of praise for the innovation showcased by the Piccolo family.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Doug Curran said the project showcased "the type of out-of-the-box thinking that we need."
"I think this is a really good thing for Griffith," Mr Curran said.
Councillor Christine Stead echoed this sentiment, saying the plan will benefit tourism in the region.
"With COVID-19 everybody seems to be coming out this way, and I just think from a tourism aspect, this is brilliant and will be great for this region," she said.