Ballarat's Future Growth Areas

Future greenfield land supply is required once land supply within the existing Ballarat West Growth Area diminishes. The areas identified as Ballarat’s future greenfield growth areas, capable of accommodating Ballarat's expected greenfield growth and housing demand beyond 2041 are:

• Western Growth Area
• Northern Growth Area
• North-Western Growth Area

Greenfield land or growth areas are former rural land areas that are identified to be developed for residential purposes. The land is typically undeveloped land and may have been previously used for agricultural or rural uses.

Strategic planning in Victoria seeks that local Council ensure 15 years of land supply is provided. Greenfield land is one element of land supply.

The Western Growth Area is expected provide around 14,000 dwellings at full development.

Key features of the area includes:

• Located in parts of Bunkers Hill, Lucas and Smythes Creek
• Broadly bound by Dyson Drive, the Kensington Creek corridor and the Ballarat West Growth Area boundary to the east. Cuthberts Road to the north, Bunkers Hill to the west and the municipal boundary/ Bells Road to the south
• Partially bound by and intersected by the Glenelg Highway
• Partially bound by the proposed Ballarat Western Link Road along its eastern boundary

View or download the Western Growth Area Map

The Northern Growth area is expected to accommodate up to 7,000 dwellings.

Key features of the area include:

• Located in parts of Mount Rowan and Miners Rest;
• Broadly bounded by Mount Rowan/ Cummins Road to the north, the Burrumbeet Creek Corridor / Delaney Drive to the west. the Western Freeway to the south and the Midland Highway to the east; and
• Adjacent to the Ballarat North Wastewater Treatment Plant & Water Reclamation Plant on the northern side of the freeway.

The Minister for Planning has rezoned the core area of the Northern Growth Area to Urban Growth Zone.

The VPA will prepare a PSP for the Northern Growth Area and consider extending the boundary to include the ‘expanded area.’

More information on the Ballarat North PSP can be found on the VPA website.

View or download the Northern Growth Area Map

The North-Western Growth area is expected to accommodate an additional 7,000 dwellings.

Key features of the area include:

• Irregular in shape and located to the west of Ballarat in parts of Lucas and Cardigan
• Roughly bound by the railway alignment to the north, Dowling Road/ Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail to the east. Cuthberts Road to the south and partially bounded by Draffins Road to the west
• Broadly divided into two halves its middle by Remembrance Drive
• Land to the south of Remembrance Drive is located adjacent to the Lucas Estate Alfredton West Precinct (i.e. east side of Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail)
• Land to the north of Remembrance Drive is located adjacent to an existing Rural Living Zone (RLZ) land

View or download the North-Western Growth Area Map

Growth Areas Quarterly updates are provided to Council each quarter. The latest update was included in the June 26 Agenda, item 8.5

The Minister requested that the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) prepare a high-level strategic review of Ballarat’s greenfield land and infill areas to inform future staging of residential growth and ensure adequate land supply. The VPA will prepare a review of Ballarat’s greenfield and infill land supply in the form of an Infrastructure Growth Alignment Framework (IGAF).  Updates on this project can be found on the VPA’s IGAF webpage.

The City of Ballarat has prepared a Draft Ballarat Growth Areas Framework Plan for the Western and North Western Growth areas to inform appropriate staging and sequencing of residential growth.  It is expected that Council will consider adopting Growth Areas Framework Plan in August 2024.

For any questions about the Ballarat Growth Areas:

• Email: growthareas@ballarat.vic.gov.au
• Phone: City of Ballarat Customer Service on 5320 5500 and ask for the Sustainable Growth Team