Plans sent for feedback, after feedback – City of Ballarat council meeting briefs

AFTER much back-and-forth, City of Ballarat councillors voted during their regular meeting last week to send their draft housing, and neighbourhood character study strategies out for public exhibition.

The release of the documents, aimed at steering the city’s housing growth through to 2041, proved a controversial move, seeing one question time submission, as well as eight written, and three in-person on the agenda item.

According to the strategy, 29,000 new dwellings are expected to be required to house 55,000 new residents in the documents lifespan, which submitter Michael Kaufmann of Kaufmann Property Consultants said won’t be feasible.

“There’s currently roughly 50,000 houses in Ballarat, and we’re saying there’s scope to put another 33,000,” he said.

“That doesn’t make sense. The question for the average person in Ballarat is do I want to see houses and units in the backyard of my property.”

Housing affordability as well as equitable residential models were also discussed, with Cr Ben Taylor saying sending the strategies out for feedback would give an understanding on community needs.

“If we keep sitting on this, we’re going to keep talking about it and going around in circles but we actually need the feedback from the community,” he said.

“Do I agree with [the strategy] 100 per cent? No way… I question the ability to get to 50/50 in relation to 50 per cent infill and 50 per cent greenfield.

“We need to find the balance. We’ve got to challenge ourselves as councillors with the community to see is that 50/50 per cent realistic.”

Cr Amy Johnson echoed Cr Taylor’s opinion but spoke against the motion and foreshadowed an alternate plan to bring it back to council if it didn’t go out for public exhibition.

“The 50/50 ratio the strategy intends to pursue is not only unachievable but simply wrong,” she said.

“There have been various ratios discussed this evening but I think 30/70 with 30 per cent infill and 70 greenfield is more akin to what we should be pursuing as a council.”

The initial motion was carried five to four, with Crs Taylor, Peter Eddy, Daniel Moloney, Belinda Coates, and Des Hudson, voting in favour.

Community consultation on the strategies is expected to run until Friday 6 October.

 

Update on growth areas report

Immediately following the housing strategies decision, councillors touched base on the current state, planning, and timeframe of the urban growth zone as part of a quarterly report.

With council’s previous move to rezone the Ballarat Northern Growth Area approved by the Minister for Planning, with an infrastructure growth alignment framework set to determine how the land can be developed.

Cr Taylor said progress on the municipality’s growth area plans is in the hands of the State Government.

“You don’t get much of an update when there’s not much happening especially under the IGAF,” he said.

“It’s great to see the north progressing but we’ve got to be realistic, even though the rezone has been done, we don’t see our start in that for another five years.”

 

Callout to answer customers

Councillors also voted to send the municipal customer charter out for community consultation until Friday 22 September, with the document aimed at detailing how City staff will respond to queries and contact.

Cr Coates said due to the municipality handling almost 100 services it’s important the community is involved in the charter.

“Every person in the City from birth to senior years will come in contact with council services at some point,” she said.

“People want to know can the issue be addressed, yes, or no… how long might it take, and let me know when or if it takes time.

“That’s a really rudimentary summary of what people would like. The draft going out for further consultation will check that.”

Municipal staff handled 80,000 phone calls as well as 35,000 digital requests, and 15,000 in-person interactions between 2022 and 2023.

 

City sanctions delegation

Creative Ballarat coordinator Tara Poole is set to travel to South Korea later this year to participate in the eighth Asia Pacific Urban Forum.

Ms Poole was invited by the UNESCO Creative City-applying City of Jajpur to attend the two-day event in October aimed at discussing ways to bolster Asian-Pacific urban regions.

With the trip’s cost estimated at more than $400, Cr Coates said the decision highlights Ms Poole’s work with the municipality’s Creative City arm.

“It really is a testament to the great work that’s being done in our arts and culture team,” Cr Coates said.

 

Costs covered for children’s playground

The municipality will contribute $7500 to match stage one costs to help build a $15,000 playground in the city of Ainaro in East Timor.

With this year marking the 20th anniversary of the City of Ballarat commencing a friendship agreement with the city, Cr Coates said the donation reflected their continued bond.

“It does feel good to be in this position where that relationship has endured,” she said.

Cr Hudson seconded the motion and said the cash was a paltry amount compared to how much is spent on Ballarat playgrounds and reserve amenities.

 

Policy put out to public

Councillors voted to release their governance policy review for public exhibition following an alternate motion brought by Cr Taylor.

With the document initially meant to be noted and taken on, Cr Taylor suggested said it was worthwhile to get feedback on the updates from the community.

The update is around changes to the municipality’s lease and licensing policy as well as Lake Wendouree boat shed policy.

 

First Nations committee reviewed

Ballarat’s Koorie Engagement Action Group advisory committee saw an update to its terms of reference as well as the appointment of two new members.

With eight initial members and Cr Coates as co-chair and the municipality’s representative, Shu Brown and Luke Bosworth were given the positions.

KEAG’s purpose is to offer an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective to the municipality regarding decision making.