CARDIGAN VILLAGE STRUCTURE PLAN (AMENDMENT C132 AND C135)

What is the Cardigan Village Structure Plan 2009?

A Structure Plan has been developed for the township of Cardigan Village. It is a planning document that sets out the broad pattern of future development in the town, based on community input received in response to public consultation during October 2008 and input from authority and agency stakeholders.  The purpose of the plan is to identify opportunities and constraints associated with the town's development, and to suggest a vision for the town.

Cardigan Village Structure Plan

Why is a Structure Plan required?

There is currently a policy gap in the Ballarat Planning Scheme in relation to future use and development of Cardigan and surrounds. Current references are limited and do not necessarily include more broader statements about future growth of the town.  In the absence of a structure plan, land owners, permit applicants and the wider community have no clear way of knowing what development proposals for Cardigan will be acceptable.

Amendment C132
Amendment C132 was prepared to introduce the recommendations of the Cardigan Village Structure Plan 2009 into the Ballarat Planning Scheme.  On 15 September 2009 Council requested the Minister for Planning authorise Council to prepare Amendment C132 to the Ballarat Planning Scheme. 

Amendment C135
During the preparation of the Cardigan Village Structure Plan a request to amend the Ballarat Planning Scheme was received by Windermere Views Pty Ltd.

The request, known as Amendment C135, sought to facilitate future residential development of approximately 60ha of land directly adjoining the eastern boundary of Cardigan Village by rezoning the land from the Farming Zone to the Township Zone.

On 5 February 2009 Council requested the Minister for Planning authorise Council to prepare Amendment C135 to the Ballarat Planning Scheme. 

Minister for Planning determines not to authorise Amendments C132 and C135

On 16 April 2010 the Minister for Planning determined not to authorise Amendments C132 and C135 on the grounds that the amendments lack sufficient strategic justification.  The Minister considers the amendments to be premature, observing that the Rural Land Use Strategy and Settlement Strategy have not been completed. The Strategic Planning team are currently working on Rural Land Use Strategy and the Settlement Strategy.

The draft Rural Land Use Strategy has now been developed and Council has approved the release of the document for informal public comment.

The Settlement Strategy, a broad long term strategic project that will consider the municipality's housing needs and future housing directions, will be commenced in due course.  These projects will help inform the preferred future strategic direction and vision for Cardigan Village.  The strategic planning of Cardigan Village will be reviewed upon the completion of these broader strategic projects.