The formal public exhibition period for the City of Ballarat’s Amendment C148 has commenced. 

The amendment will introduce the Ballarat Rural Land Use Strategy into the Ballarat Planning Scheme.

The Ballarat Rural Land Use Strategy was adopted by Ballarat City Council at an Ordinary Meeting of Council held on 8 December 2010 and aims to ensure the long-term productivity and sustainable development of Ballarat’s rural areas.

The key adopted recommendations of the Strategy are a long-term vision for the municipality’s rural areas and formulation of a new policy and modified planning controls for assessing housing and subdivision in the Farming Zone.

City of Ballarat Portfolio Councillor for Growth and Development Noel Perry said the Ballarat Rural Land Use Strategy was developed following extensive consultation with the community and industry representatives.

“Ballarat’s core farming areas include some of the most productive agricultural land in Victoria. As a Council it is important for us to acknowledge the importance of agriculture to the Ballarat economy and, as such, we have developed this strategy in consultation with key stakeholders.”

Council will be conducting an information session regarding Amendment C148 on Tuesday 9 August 2011 from 4pm to 7pm, in the Trench Room at the Town Hall. This session will enable interested community members to drop in at their convenience, review the amendment documents and the Rural Land Use Strategy and ask any questions about their content.

The strategy and amendment documents, including the Explanatory Report which explains the purpose of the amendment and the proposed changes to the Planning Scheme, can be viewed on the City of Ballarat website, www.ballarat.vic.gov.au under ‘Strategic Planning – Currently on Exhibtion’, or in person at the Ballarat Town Hall, Sturt Street, Ballarat.

Submissions can be sent:

• by email to: strategicplanning@ballarat.vic.gov.au
• by post to: Strategic Planning, City of Ballarat, PO Box 655, Ballarat Vic 3353

Please ensure your comments are submitted in writing no later than 5pm on Friday 9 September, 2011 and are clearly marked with the reference: ‘Ballarat Planning Scheme Amendment C148’.