UP to six-thousand new homes will be built in Ballarat\u2019s north after a several greenfield sites were rezoned as a future residential areas last week.<\/p>\n
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has authorised the reclassification of the core part of the city\u2019s northern growth area to an urban growth zone.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The new area should accommodate up to 6000 houses and potentially some 15,000 residents a statement from the City of Ballarat said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said sustainably managing the municipality\u2019s population growth was critical.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021-2025 identifies as two of the organisation\u2019s key goals, a city that fosters sustainable growth and conserves and enhances our natural and built assets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking forward to working with the VPA to see this important planning work completed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The northern growth zone was one of three growth zones identified for rezoning at a council meeting earlier in 2022.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n