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.<\/p>\n
The release of the documents, aimed at steering the city\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019t be feasible.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s currently roughly 50,000 houses in Ballarat, and we\u2019re saying there\u2019s scope to put another 33,000,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat doesn\u2019t 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we keep sitting on this, we\u2019re going to keep talking about it and going around in circles but we actually need the feedback from the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo I agree with [the strategy] 100 per cent? No way\u2026 I question the ability to get to 50\/50 in relation to 50 per cent infill and 50 per cent greenfield.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to find the balance. We\u2019ve got to challenge ourselves as councillors with the community to see is that 50\/50 per cent realistic.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Amy Johnson echoed Cr Taylor\u2019s opinion but spoke against the motion and foreshadowed an alternate plan to bring it back to council if it didn\u2019t go out for public exhibition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 50\/50 ratio the strategy intends to pursue is not only unachievable but simply wrong,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The initial motion was carried five to four, with Crs Taylor, Peter Eddy, Daniel Moloney, Belinda Coates, and Des Hudson, voting in favour.<\/p>\n
Community consultation on the strategies is expected to run until Friday 6 October.<\/p>\n
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Update on growth areas report<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n With council\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Cr Taylor said progress on the municipality\u2019s growth area plans is in the hands of the State Government.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t get much of an update when there\u2019s not much happening especially under the IGAF,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to see the north progressing but we\u2019ve got to be realistic, even though the rezone has been done, we don\u2019t see our start in that for another five years.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Callout to answer customers<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Cr Coates said due to the municipality handling almost 100 services it\u2019s important the community is involved in the charter.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery person in the City from birth to senior years will come in contact with council services at some point,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople want to know can the issue be addressed, yes, or no\u2026 how long might it take, and let me know when or if it takes time.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a really rudimentary summary of what people would like. The draft going out for further consultation will check that.\u201d<\/p>\n Municipal staff handled 80,000 phone calls as well as 35,000 digital requests, and 15,000 in-person interactions between 2022 and 2023.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n City sanctions delegation<\/strong><\/p>\n Creative Ballarat coordinator Tara Poole is set to travel to South Korea later this year to participate in the eighth Asia Pacific Urban Forum.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n With the trip\u2019s cost estimated at more than $400, Cr Coates said the decision highlights Ms Poole\u2019s work with the municipality\u2019s Creative City arm.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really is a testament to the great work that\u2019s being done in our arts and culture team,\u201d Cr Coates said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Costs covered for children\u2019s playground<\/strong><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt does feel good to be in this position where that relationship has endured,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n