New growth and jobs for Ballarat
Planning Minister Matthew Guy has today brought forward and approved the Ballarat West Precinct Structure Plan which will bring hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars of investment to the Ballarat regional economy.
The structure plan will see large areas to the west of the city approved for development and will bring forward road, community and commercial infrastructure to support around 30,000 people when fully developed.
“This is a terrific boost to the Ballarat economy and will go a long way to combating housing affordability pressures in the region,” Mr Guy said.
“As Victoria’s third largest city and Australia’s third largest inland metropolitan area, Ballarat is growing strongly and needs to plan ahead for the long term.”
“The City of Ballarat deserves congratulations for their hard work in preparing the structure plan and for their policy position to bring greater land supply on stream to combat affordability pressures and strategically place Ballarat as a growing city in which to invest.”
The Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) comprises of three areas covering approximately 1,290 hectares of land across 230 existing properties. The Ballarat West Employment Zone is located immediately north of the growth area and is expected to provide a major source of employment for new residents.
The integration of the three precincts into the Ballarat West PSP will allow for the smooth transition of non-urban land to urban land and provide the development industry, investors and local communities with certainty around future development.
“Ballarat West is strategically located close to a range of social, health and community infrastructure including hospitals, childcare, libraries and community centres in the Ballarat CBD and surrounding neighborhoods,” Mr Guy said.
The plan reserves land for five new schools, co-located sporting fields, community centres and walking tracks.
“The area is a prime location for increased urban development and will strengthen Ballarat as a major regional centre driving connectivity with Melbourne and other major regional centres.”
The Ballarat West PSP has now been approved through planning scheme amendment C158.
