Land rezoned for urban growth

UP to six-thousand new homes will be built in Ballarat’s north after a several greenfield sites were rezoned as a future residential areas last week.

The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has authorised the reclassification of the core part of the city’s northern growth area to an urban growth zone.

Ballarat currently has a population more than 115,000 people but that number is expected to balloon to over 144,000 in the next eight years, a 25 per cent increase.

The new area should accommodate up to 6000 houses and potentially some 15,000 residents a statement from the City of Ballarat said.

Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said sustainably managing the municipality’s population growth was critical.

“It’s important that the planning and delivery of large areas of residential growth is staged to ensure development is in line with environmental principles to ensure future communities are well-planned and sustainable,” he said.

“The City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025 identifies as two of the organisation’s key goals, a city that fosters sustainable growth and conserves and enhances our natural and built assets.

“We are looking forward to working with the VPA to see this important planning work completed.

“This will 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.”

Landscape assessments would be conducted on Mount Rowan, located in the northern growth area, to ensure its protection, a media statement from the City of Ballarat said.

The northern growth zone was one of three growth zones identified for rezoning at a council meeting earlier in 2022.

The statement said it would work with the Victorian Planning Authority to review Ballarat’s other greenfield land and urban renewal areas and plan for the staging of more residential growth.

-WITH AAP