Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff has refused to put a price on what the state is willing to pay for the James Boag’s brewery site in Launceston.The state government on Wednesday revealed it was interested in buying the 145-year-old brewery, which is set to be closed in November.The premier met with representatives from Kirin, the parent company of Boag's owner Lion Australia, earlier this week. He said the company had given "in-principle support" to exploring the state's proposal.But Mr Rockliff does not yet have any detailed analysis on whether the site can be remediated for a large, multi-purpose commercial site and has not provided a timeline for the project.Boag's says it will cease its Tasmanian operations in November. (ABC News: Emily Smith)Appearing in Launceston on Wednesday at a government-organised Northern Tasmania Economic Summit, Mr Rockliff said that a "fair outcome … for a fair price" was in the interests of both parties when asked how much the site would cost.Last month, Lion announced it would close its 145-year-old Launceston Boag's site by November and complete a shift of all production of the iconic Tasmanian beer to its mainland breweries.Wednesday morning's press release was the first indication, after weeks of concerns and questions about the future of the site and its 42 current employees, that the state wanted to buy the large site in the Launceston CBD.Premier Jeremy Rockliff speaks at the Northern Tasmania Economic Summit. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)The statement contained no figures on what it would cost the public purse, and when pressed to provide a number at a press conference, Mr Rockliff declined to do so."As you'd well appreciate … I'm not going to negotiate in a media conference," he said, chuckling."However, what we will do is take the community with us to the negotiation table to ensure the Tasmanian taxpayer gets value for money."A fair outcome for both parties clearly is the objective."An artist impression from developer Errol Stewart shows how part of the site could be used as a public space. (Supplied: Errol Stewart)Hotel, offices and public spaces in developer's proposalDeveloper Errol Stewart appeared alongside the premier at the press conference, having presented his vision for the site to the economic summit.He suggested the site could be redeveloped into a mix of commercial properties, a boutique hotel, large public open spaces, offices and car parking.He also said residential options were a possibility, though he said that was "a little bit harder" given the site's proximity to the Tamar River, which is separated from the site by a flood levee.The site will need remediation before commercial development. (Facebook: James Boag Brewery Experience)Not wedded to his own proposal, Mr Stewart said "something like" what he had presented would be a good outcome."I think we might have helped convince the premier … and his colleagues, that it is really worth a coordinated approach to acquire the site," he said."I think it would be really good for the city."Errol Stewart's vision for the site includes an office space, depicted here in an artist's impression. (Supplied: Errol Stewart)Mr Stewart said he believed the site was worth between $20 and $25 million."It would be very hard for a developer to pay that sort of money and make it work," he said."If I was going to buy it, I would want to buy it for 15 [million dollars]."He also said he believed a redevelopment of the site could be turned around before 2030, if the sale of the site and the planning requirements progressed smoothly."It shouldn't be that hard," he said."I think you could get it going this time next year or certainly late 2027."An artistic render of Errol Stewart's vision for the Boag's site. (Supplied: Errol Stewart)The premier was asked about a timeline for the acquisition of the site and said he would be meeting with the Lion next week to continue negotiations, but that the company's processes for winding down operations needed to be considered."Certainly, I'll be encouraging that we sort this out sooner rather than later," Mr Rockliff said, adding that legislation may be required to "fast track" purchasing and redeveloping the site.The premier was also asked about what remediation work may need to be undertaken on the site to ensure it could be redeveloped while preserving the heritage of the site.The brewery is responsible for 42 local jobs. (ABC News: Andre Leslie)The site, which includes the brewery and a former mine smelter, was permanently added to the Tasmanian Heritage Register in February last year."I haven't got any detailed analysis on that yet," Mr Rockliff said."But there is a huge opportunity there."The United Workers Union launched an online petition in late June to try and stop the closure, calling for Lion to sell rather than close Boag's. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)Kirin agrees to consider 'further requests' on worker support: RockliffMr Rockliff said he had put the concerns of Boag's workers directly to parent company Kirin during his trip to Japan."I heard clearly from the workers about how this unexpected decision [to close the site] has impacted them and their families, and the need for more clarity from Kirin and Lion," Mr Rockliff said."Kirin has agreed to genuinely consider the further requests in relation to the worker support package.""Workers have always been our priority throughout this process, and we will continue fighting for them."In rationalising the decision to close the site, the brewer said it had been grappling with high costs and a "long-term decline in the national beer market".The premier also said Kirin had reinforced its commitment to "explore small batch opportunities" with Tasmanian brewers.