A report presented to the City of Ballarat’s Ordinary Council Meeting last night revealed that planning applications in Ballarat are being processed faster than regional and metropolitan councils.

In sharp contrast to the average processing rate for metropolitan councils at 64% within 60 days and regional councils at 70%, the City of Ballarat processed 95% of all applications within 60 days in December 2011.

For the final quarter of 2011 Ballarat‘s clearance rates for planning applications were 20% greater than that of regional and metropolitan councils.

Mayor of Ballarat, Cr Mark Harris said Council’s planners are to be congratulated for improving processing times to this extent.

“Residential and commercial builders can build in Ballarat with greater certainty that planning applications will be processed within 60 days. We’re reducing delays and uncertainty for local builders and developers”.

In November and December 2011, the City of Ballarat issued building permits to the value of $34 million. The figure was tabled in the Planning & Building Activity Report November and December 2011, approved at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on 8 February 2012.

Cr Judy Verlin said the latest Planning & Building Activity Report is a reflection the hard work of City of Ballarat’s Planning Department.

 “Ballarat is a busy, growing city and we congratulate Council’s dedicated planning team for diligently and responsibly handling the increasing number of permit applications in the city. Our staff are a ‘can do’ team who are committed to dealing with each application fairly and in a timely manner, as well as improving decision time performance,” said Cr Verlin.

“This achievement is all the more extraordinary because Ballarat’s Planning team undertake mediations on every application that is subject to an objection. Ballarat is one of the few Victorian Councils to mediate on every application”.  

In November and December 2011, the City of Ballarat completed 173 Town Planning Applications and 37 Building Permits