The City of Ballarat has approved new works for Ballarat’s Bakery Hill entrance precinct at the Ordinary Meeting of Ballarat City Council.

Council voted unanimously to provide a new public space featuring grassed areas, trees, street furniture, ornamental lighting and alfresco dining areas as part of the precinct.

The plans also include works to remove the existing car parking and rotunda in the Bakery Hill plaza to make way for an open square concept featuring an open grassed area. The existing car parking in this precinct will be relocated to the lower section of Little Bridge Street and will see an overall increase of three car parking spaces.

The works to be completed over the next two years will create a strong visual line of sight from Bakery Hill through to the Sturt Street boulevard.

Ballarat Mayor Cr Craig Fletcher said the Bakery Hill entrance is a priority project for this Council.

“Following on from the community consultation conducted during the development of the CBD Strategy, we heard clearly that a more appealing and welcoming entrance to Ballarat was required.

“I am looking forward to recommencing that consultation with the community, the commercial  and retail sectors in the precinct. We will be working with the community to create an entrance to Ballarat’s CBD that befits a regional capital.  All stakeholders in the area will be invited to meet with Council officers to discuss the proposal”.

“The proposed plan includes an option to reduce traffic along Main Road between Humffray Street and Little Bridge Street to one way traffic, allowing only north bound traffic travelling from Humffray Street to Little Bridge Street*”. (see below for details of the traffic study)

“This is a bold idea and one that we want to talk to the community about” said Cr Fletcher.

“We will be developing a detailed design following feedback from the community and I encourage the community to have their say on this project.”

The Bakery Hill entrance redevelopment was budgeted for in the 2011/12 Capital Budget. It is proposed that the project be executed over two financial years, with the first stage of works involving the Bakery Hill Plaza, car parking in Little Bridge and Bridge Streets due to get underway in early 2012. 

To view the concept designs click on the links below:

Bakery Hill concept

Bakery Hill concept stage 1

Bakery Hill concept stage 2A

Bakery Hill concept stage 2B

Bakery Hill concept stage 3

Bakery Hill entrance artist impression

Bakery Hill carpark artist impression

Community members are also invited to view hard copies of the concepts at the Town Hall and meet with Council officers to discuss the plans from Thursday 28 July.

*Initial studies around the proposal to change Main Road to one way traffic, involved a weekly traffic count. The results showed the following:

-       North Bound (proposed to remain open), had a seven day vehicle movement average of 2410 vehicles per day.

-       South Bound (proposed closure), had a seven day vehicle movement average of 203 vehicles per day.