Residents and business owners had their say on the proposed Ballarat West Employment Zone last night at the City of Ballarat’s initial workshop on the project.

The Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) is a key part of the City of Ballarat’s strategic vision to meet the needs and aspirations of a growing population. The city is expected to grow to around 130,000 by 2030.

The BWEZ is part of the larger Ballarat West project which includes the Western Link Road and the Ballarat West Growth Area. The project as a whole aims to cater for part of the population growth through providing increased land for industry, improved transport linkages, and increased residential opportunities. 

City of Ballarat Mayor Craig Fletcher said Council ran the workshop to ensure residents and business owners could have their say as the Master Plan is developed. Other community information sessions will be held during the development of the Master Plan.

“Growth is necessary and valuable to Ballarat but it needs to be responsibly planned for so that we protect our current way of life and the environment. It’s about capturing what’s special about Ballarat now and taking it with us as we grow”.

“We understand that residents and business owners already in the area will have thoughts around this and are very close to the proposed project. The workshop will help to ensure we’re all on the same page from the very beginning of the project which will make for smooth sailing as we proceed”.

The Master Plan will provide a land use plan, mapping out how the precinct will be developed over the next 20 years and will also include inputs from a number of technical studies being prepared to understand the site constraints and opportunities.

A business case is being prepared in conjunction with the Master Plan to assist in securing funding for the project.

Upon completion of the Master Plan, a planning scheme amendment will be undertaken to rezone the land. The development of the area will then proceed in stages with the first stage likely to begin in line with the Western Link Road.