Have your say on the Sebastopol streetscape upgrade

The City of Ballarat is encouraging the community to have its say on plans to deliver a major streetscape upgrade to the Victoria and Albert Streets precinct in Sebastopol. 

The $974,000 project will deliver landscaping, including 80 new trees to enhance the area, and will improve parking, pedestrian safety and accessibility.  

The City of Ballarat is delivering the upgrade which is being funded through the State Government’s $5 million Spotlight on Sebastopol program. 

The proposed works, subject to final design and budget, will take place from just north of Birdwood Avenue to Ophir Street, and include: 

• Eighty new trees along Albert, Victoria and Bridge Streets plus garden beds and landscaping 
• Improved streetscape amenity and beautification   
• Improved accessibility and pedestrian safety at the Albert Street and Victoria Street roundabout 
• More parking, including accessible car parking 
• New paving and seated areas for pedestrians and community members using local businesses 
• New precinct signs. 

The City of Ballarat has developed draft plans in consultation with stakeholders, including local businesses, traders and Regional Roads Victoria. 

The proposed works have been informed through engineering advice and Australian Standards as well as trader and business engagement. 

Most of the works will take place along the road shoulders and footpaths and are not expected to cause traffic disruption and will not impede businesses in the precinct. However, some minor disruptions for pedestrian access are expected. 

The streetscape upgrade is expected to occur after the important Easter retail trading time next year. The streetscape works are expected to take eight-12 weeks, with the timing dependent on weather conditions during construction. 

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said this is a significant project that will deliver renewed infrastructure to one of Ballarat’s oldest areas. 

"This is an important project for Sebastopol that will enhance the area with 80 news trees and landscaping that will create a greener precinct, increase natural shade and reduce heat stress,” he said. 

“This builds on from the Sebastopol Urban Forest project funded by the State Government which has delivered more than 1,300 trees throughout Sebastopol. 

“This major upgrade will also improve pedestrian safety and make the precinct a more inviting place to visit and shop.” 

The Sebastopol streetscape precinct plans are on display at the Sebastopol Library and on the City of Ballarat’s mySay page. The community is encouraged to have its say via the mySay page until Wednesday 21 September. 

The community consultation invites feedback on: 

1. Does the proposed design make the precinct easier to use? 
2. Is there something else that you think would make the precinct more usable, safer, or welcoming? 
3. What would you change, if anything, about the proposed design and why? 

The streetscape improvements do not propose changing the location of the existing pedestrian crossing signals, south of the Albert and Victoria Streets roundabout. Also, the project does not propose the introduction of traffic lights at the intersection.  

The Spotlight on Sebastopol program is supported by community consultation, including a local community reference group made up of Sebastopol residents and stakeholder groups.