Ballarat’s growth areas quarterly update

At last night’s December Meeting, Ballarat City Councillors noted an update on the progress of rezoning the Core Northern, Western and North-Western Growth Areas to Urban Growth Zone (UGZ) and the project plan including timeframes for the Growth Areas Framework Plan. 

The key points highlighted in the update were: 

• The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to rezone Core Northern Growth Area to an Urban Growth Zone. 

• DELWP to update the Ballarat Planning Scheme. 

• The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to prepare the Precinct Structure Plan for the Northern Growth Area. 

• VPA to review Ballarat’s greenfield land and urban renewal areas land supply as part of the High-Level Strategic Review (HLSR). 

• Within two months of the HLSR findings, City of Ballarat officers to present an update on the Growth Area Framework Plan for the Western Growth Areas which would ultimately inform appropriate staging and sequencing of residential growth. 

The City of Ballarat Planning Department is collaborating with the VPA to review the greenfield land and urban renewal area supply within the municipality. The High-Level Strategic Review is also being completed by the VPA.  

The City of Ballarat’s Planning Department is working on preparing a Growth Area Framework Plan for the Western Growth Areas to align with the High-Level Strategic Review. 

The City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said he and the Councillors understand the importance in this vital planning work.  

“It is crucial to keep the strategic planning work progressing to ensure residential growth is delivered in a way that meets the Council Plan goals and allows for ongoing supply of land to meet the needs of future residents,” he said.   

“It is vital as Councillors to be updated on the progress of the new growth areas to ensure we facilitate sustainable development in our new residential neighbourhoods.”  

2022 in review 

Earlier in 2022, at the February Council meeting it was resolved to support the rezoning of three new growth areas in Ballarat, known as the Northern, the Western and the North-Western growth areas.  

This resolution of Council also sought to receive quarterly progress updates on the rezoning of land to Urban Growth Zone and a timeframe for the Growth Areas Framework Plan. 

In September 2022, The City of Ballarat welcomed the decision by the State Government to authorise the rezoning of the Core Northern Growth Area to an Urban Growth Zone which will become the city’s newest residential growth area.