BALLARAT WEST EMPLOYMENT ZONE

A new employment zone in Ballarat’s West will secure Ballarat’s future prosperity and create new job opportunities for our growing community.

Ballarat West Employment Zone Draft Master Plan (Part A)

Ballarat West Employment Zone Draft Master Plan (Part B)

Project Overview

The Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) is a long term project to unlock land for industry and create significant employment opportunities for our growing population.

Through careful and responsive planning, the Employment Zone will create jobs, generate investment and further enhance Ballarat as a growing and thriving regional centre.

Situated nearby the Ballarat West Growth Zone, the Ballarat Airport and rail infrastructure and the future Western Link Road, the proposed Employment Zone is an ideal site for the future industry and employment activity.

Developing a Master Plan

The first step in developing the Employment Zone site is preparing a Master Plan which will map out how the precinct will be developed over the next 20 years.  The plan includes inputs from a number of technical investigations as well as stakeholder and community engagement to establish existing constraints and future opportunities.

A Business Case and Development Strategy are being prepared in conjunction with the Master Plan to assist in securing State Government funding for the project.

Upon completion of the Master Plan and Business case, a Planning Scheme Amendment will be undertaken to rezone the land for future development, in accordance with the Master Plan.

Timeline

If approved by Council at its General Council meeting on the 14th December 2011, the Draft BWEZ Master Plan will be released for public comment on Thursday 15th December 2011. Once submissions have been received Officers will work to finalise the Master Plan, Development Strategy and Business Case for the adoption by Council early in the new year.

Delivery

AECOM, a global professional and technical services consultancy, have been commissioned to prepare the Employment Zone Master Plan.  AECOM provide the knowledge and expertise to deliver a quality and innovative design that will service the specific needs of this important development for Ballarat. For more information about AECOM see, www.aecom.com/What+We+Do/Design+and+Planning

Project update – November 2011

A consultation session with affected stakeholders was held on 13 October 2011 and was followed by a general community drop-in session on 20 October 2011. Council has also provided briefings to a range of business and community organisations.

The feedback from stakeholders and the community and the findings of the technical studies have now been used to inform the development scenarios and the Land Use Framework Plan contained in the Draft Master Plan.

Stakeholder and community consultation

Consultation is a vital element in the formulation of the BWEZ Master Plan. Council is interested to hear from you, so to have your say on the Draft BWEZ Master Plan or for more information contact: employmentzone@ballarat.vic.gov.au

Stakeholder and community consultation

Consultation is a vital element in the formulation of the BWEZ Master Plan. To have your say on the development of the Master Plan and find out what consultation has been undertaken so far click here.

For more information contact: employmentzone@ballarat.vic.gov.au