Lyons St redevelopment to go to Ballarat City Council Planning Committee meeting 

A proposed redevelopment of a former Loreto College site at 6 Lyons Street North will go before Ballarat City Council’s Planning Committee on the 13 October. 

Officers have recommended the development for 59 units, three townhouses, six speciality housing units, a café with liquor license, a landscaped courtyard and basement parking be approved, with conditions. 

This is based on the development having significant benefits for both the site and the Ballarat CBD. 

These include: 

• allowing for the site’s potential to be finally realised  
• making a significant contribution to well serviced residential land on the CBD’s edge.  
• increasing the inner city’s residential population, which can improve the CBD’s safety and vitality 
• retaining part of the former Loreto College music building, allowing the building’s original form to be appreciated 
• providing for six specialist housing units which will help address Ballarat’s community housing/ specialist disability accommodation/ key worker housing needs 
• the contemporary built form adds to Ballarat’s architectural diversity, while ensuring key landmark features, particularly nearby church spires, can still be appreciated. 

While demolition of the original 1932 music building is not desirable, the building is currently structurally unsound, would require extensive repair works, was already damaged by fire in 2011 and is not of regional or state significance. 

However, the original parapets, roof and window features, and statue niche would be retained. 

The development is located in the Convenience Living Precinct, which promotes compact, high-density, and diverse infill housing while also protecting heritage features. 

The development, while reaching seven storeys in some parts, will also be lower than the nearby church spires at the Congregational Church and St Andrew’s Kirk, will have limited visibility from key intersections and will sit comfortably with the higher built forms around it, including two hospitals. 

Being in a Residential Growth Zone, the site supports a café use and has appropriate car parking.  

Councillors will vote on the issue on Wednesday 13 October. 

Based on a State Government Amendment to the Planning Scheme, the Lake Lighting Project Permit Application – originally due to be discussed at the 13 October Planning Committee Meeting – will now be voted on at the October 27 Ordinary Council Meeting.