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| Making recommendations to preserve the long-term growth potential of the Ballarat airport, Council has adopted a Master Plan. The Ballarat Aerodrome Planning Scheme Amendment is also available and applies use and development controls to areas adjoining the airport. |
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| The Ballarat Aerodrome and West Common Draft Land Use Concept Plan has been prepared to provide an overview of issues and constraints associated with development at the Ballarat Aerodrome and Ballarat West Common. |
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| Amendment C103 proposes to rezone and apply other planning controls to four parcels of land in Cuthberts Road, Alfredton. |
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| Ballarat Amendment C95 proposes to introduce the planning framework for the Canadian Valley Outline Development Plan as well as changes to the Vegetation Protection Overlay 1 and a new overlay for protecting Koala habitats. |
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| The Ballarat West Local Structure Plan will guide the urban growth of Alfredton, Delacombe and Sebastopol. Amendment C117 proposes to update the Ballarat Planning Scheme to reference this Plan. |
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| The purpose of this report is to propose incorporation of provisions into the Ballarat Planning Scheme that require subdivisions to allow for a minimum capacity of broadband services to be made available in all new residential, commercial and industrial developments. |
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| The Canadian Valley Outline Development Plan (ODP) was adopted by Council on 22 June 2005. Review the summary of the objectives, key issues and recommendations of the strategic direction for Mt Helen, Mt Clear and Buninyong. |
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| A draft Structure Plan for Cardigan will be prepared to identify opportunities and constraints associated with the town's development, and suggest a vision for the town. |
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| The Framework is aimed at improving the urban design, development and function of the CBA. The Ballarat Central Business Area (CBA) Urban Design Framework (UDF) was adopted by Council on 10 May 2006. |
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| The City of Ballarat has recently received submissions from eight companies as a response to an expression of interest for the redevelopment of the Civic Hall site. |
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| Council adopted the Ballarat Entrances Strategy on 23 August 2006. Ongoing planning is now occurring to implement capital works in accordance with the budget. |
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| An Industrial Land Use Strategy recently adopted by Council, makes recommendations for the location of future industrial land use in Ballarat. Planning Scheme Amendment C88 has been prepared to implement the Strategy. |
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| Planning Scheme Amendment C88 seeks to implement the Ballarat Industrial Land Use Strategy. |
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| Proposing to change 620 hectares of land west of Alfredton, the Lake Federation Panel Report was produced in November 2004. |
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| A draft Structure Plan for the Learmonth township has been prepared by consultants for Council. The Plan was on public exhibition until 21 November 2005. Community feedback on the draft was sought and Council is currently considering submissions received to the Plan. |
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| Amendment C110 is proposing a combined rezoning and planning permit to redevelop the former Loreto College site fronting Dawson and Lyons Streets. |
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| The Medical Precinct Study has been prepared to address issues around the development of medical facilities in residential areas. Amendment C92 is proposing to implement the recommendations of the Study. Submissions to the amendment closed on 22 June 2007. |
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| An Outline Development Plan (ODP) was initially prepared for Miners Rest in 1994 and there have been a number of changes within the township since the original ODP was prepared. The Miners Rest ODP will review and assess how the township is developing and provide guidance for any future development of the area. |
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| Identifying new areas of significant native vegetation within the municipality, the Native Vegetation Mapping Report recommends extending the Vegetation Protection Overlay to provide planning protection for these areas. Produced by the University of Ballarat's Centre for Environmental Management the report has been adopted by Council. |
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The Open Space Strategy is being prepared to guide future decisions relating to the provision of open spaces in Ballarat. |
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| The Rural Areas Plan will review the appropriateness of current zones for all rurally zoned properties within the municipality and make recommendations for any necessary rezonings. |
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The Minister for Planning has amended the Ballarat Planning Scheme to replace the current Rural Zone, Rural Living Zone and Environmental Rural Zone with the new Farming Zone, a modified Rural Living Zone and the Rural Conservation Zone. These changes took effect from 2 August 2007. |
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| The review of Treatment Plant Buffer Distances responds to recommendations of the last review of the Municipal Strategic Statement and will ensure that appropriate development controls are included in the Planning Scheme to avoid future conflict between the treatment facilities at Ballarat North, Ballarat South and Cardigan and sensitive lands uses such as residential development. |
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| Council is undertaking an Outline Development Plan for Victoria Park and the Ballarat Livestock Selling Centre. |
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| C102 proposes to introduce the Wildfire Management Overlay over areas within the municipality recognised as being wildfire prone. |
What does the Strategic Planning Unit do?
The Strategic Planning Unit is responsible for establishing and monitoring the City of Ballarat's strategic land use planning framework including:
- the preparation of specific land use strategies, policies and guidelines;
- responding to requests for changes to the planning scheme, including rezonings;
- provide advice on strategic planning matters, including urban design and heritage.
Planning Scheme Amendment Process
Council, government agencies or individuals may seek to change Ballarat's planning scheme or land use controls by applying for a planning scheme amendment.
Council will consider written requests for amendments that justify why the amendment should be prepared. Council is under no obligation to prepare any amendment and may choose not to do so after assessing the request.
Rezoning requests must meet a number of tests to ensure they are consistent with Council's strategic direction, as specified in its Municipal Strategic Statement.
The process for considering amendment requests is as follows:
- Council considers the matter and resolves to either support the amendment or not
- If Council supports the amendment, this is placed on public exhibition for a minimum one (1) month period. Adjoining owners and occupiers are usually notified by mail of the proposed amendment. The proposed amendment is also referred to a number of State Government departments and service authorities.
- Council then considers submissions and will either resolve to abandon the amendment or approve, with or without changes. (NB. The views of an independent panel, appointed by the State Minister for Planning, are sought when Council cannot resolve the issues).
- Council then sends the amendment to the Minister for Planning for approval. The final decision to amend a planning scheme rests with the Minister for Planning.
Fees apply for any parties making an amendment request. These fees are set out in the Planning and Environment (Fees) Regulations 2000 and are listed below:
| Stage of Amendment | Fee |
|---|
| To have an amendment request considered by Council | $752 |
| For Council to consider any objections | $752 |
| For adopting the amendment | $494 |
| For consideration of the adopted amendment by the Minister for Planning | $752 |
(Updated on 1 November 2007) (Note: These fees may change without notice) |
If an amendment is referred to a panel for objecting submissions to be considered then the applicant is responsible for meeting all costs incurred by the panel.
Before making a request to amend the planning scheme discuss your proposal with Councils Strategic Planning Unit.
Current Planning Scheme Amendments
Current planning scheme amendments being processed by the City of Ballarat can be found at the
Department of Sustainability website.
The Strategic Planning Library
The City of Ballarat has a number of current strategies and policies relating to the use and development of land within the municipality. The following is a list of the main documents that can be either dowloaded from the links below or obtained through the Strategic Planning Unit.
Ballarat Planning Scheme
Land use and development within the City of Ballarat is controlled through the Ballarat Planning Scheme. The planning scheme can be viewed online at the
Department of Planning and Community Development - Ballarat Planning Scheme website.
Additional information on planning schemes generally and the Victorian planning system can also be obtained from the Department of Sustainability and Environment website.
Contact Details
The Strategic Planning Unit is located at the Town Hall, Sturt Street, Ballarat. For Strategic Planning enquiries please phone 03 5320 5536 or email
strategicplanning@ballarat.vic.gov.au.
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