BALLARAT WEST GROWTH AREA

The Ballarat West Growth Area will cater for primarily residential growth and provide services and infrastructure for new communities.  The Growth Area comprises 1,675 hectares of Greenfield land located to the west of Alfredton, Delacombe and Sebastapol. 

The Growth Area will provide circa 18,000 new houses at full development to accommodate a population of over 40,000 people.

The Growth Area encompasses four residential planning precincts:

• Bonshaw Creek (Precinct 1) 
• Greenhalghs Road (Precinct 2)
• Alfredton West (Precinct 3)
• Carngham Road (Precinct 4)

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The Ballarat West Growth Area Plan

The Ballarat West Growth Area Plan 2009, adopted in September 2009, provides a framework for the development of the Growth Area. As part of planning for residential areas, the plan provides for new town centres at Alfredton and Delacombe, community infrastructure, recreation and sports grounds, and direction for the development of a future residential community.

The BWGAP has been incorporated into the Ballarat Planning Scheme via Amendment C117 that came into effect on the 3^rd of September 2009. The amendment incorporated the BWGAP into the planning scheme as a reference document and amended Clause 21 Municipal Strategic Statement, but did not include any rezoning of land.

Download the Ballarat West Growth Area Plan

• Ballarat West Growth Area Plan Part 1 (4,216KB)
• Ballarat West Growth Area Plan Part 2 (3,316KB)
• Ballarat West Growth Area Plan Part 3 (2,118 KB)
• Ballarat West Growth Area Plan Part 4 (4,067KB)

Amendment C117 and C133

The Minster for Planning announced on the 3^rd September 2009 the approval of Ballarat Planning Scheme Amendment C117, which incorporates findings of the Ballarat West Growth Area Plan into the Planning Scheme and Ballarat Planning Scheme Amendment C133, which rezones all of the Farming Zone land in the Ballarat West Growth Area to the Urban Growth Zone.

The approved Amendment documents can be viewed via the Department of Planning and Community Development webpage:

Amendment C117

Amendment C133

Urban Growth Zone

The Urban Growth Zone (UGZ) reserves land for future urban development. The zone has been applied to all the growth areas across the state to achieve better, faster developments in the growth areas.

The zoning provisions effectively replicate those of the Farming Zone until such time as a Precinct Structure Plan is approved.  The new zone will also help bring forward basic community services, so families moving into new communities have access to key services a lot earlier.

The UGZ will manage the transition of non-urban land into urban land, encourage the development of well-planned and well-serviced new urban communities in accordance with an overall plan, reduce the number of development approvals needed in areas where a PSP is in place, and will safeguard non-urban land from use and development that could prejudice its future urban development.

Council resolved to rezone all the land currently in the ‘Farming Zone’ within the BWGAP to the Urban Growth Zone (UGZ). The Minister for Planning subsequently approved the Urban Growth Zone for Ballarat West via Amendment C133 and the amendment came into effect on the 3^rd of September 2009.

How does the Urban Growth Zone operate?

The application of the Urban Growth Zone does not, by itself, allow urban use and development to proceed. A precinct structure plan must be prepared and applied to the land before this can occur.

What are the next stages- Precinct Structure Plan Preparation

More detailed planning is now being done through the preparation of Precinct Structure Plans (PSPs) to facilitate the development of the Growth Area. PSPs are detailed master plans which will identify housing, town centres, community facilities, open space and transport networks in new neighbourhoods.

Development of Precinct Structure Plans for the Growth Area will deliver effective and integrated future planning for the new communities.  To ensure that the growth area planning objectives are achieved and livable communities are planned for, the following elements must be addressed in the PSPs:

• integrated neighborhood design,
• housing,
• community facilities,
• open space and natural systems,
• activity centres and employment areas,
• transport and movement, and
• utilities and energy.

In order to ensure the effective planning and delivery of the Ballarat West Growth Area, Council will proactively engage with a variety of stakeholders including the community, landowners, developers, investors, government agencies and service providers.  

 Read more about the Precinct Structure Plans