Learmonth Structure Plan - Draft

What is the Draft Learmonth Structure Plan?

A draft Structure Plan has been developed for the township of Learmonth. It is a planning document that sets out the broad pattern of future development in the town, and has been prepared for the City of Ballarat by consultants Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), based on input from authority and agency stakeholders. It identifies opportunities and constraints associated with the towns development, and suggests a vision for the town. The Plan has been prepared in conjunction with the Rural Area Review currently being conducted by SKM.

Why is a Structure Plan required?

There is currently a policy gap in the Ballarat Planning Scheme in relation to future use and development in the town. Current references are limited to recognition of heritage issues rather than more broader statements about future growth of the town. This gap was identified by the independent Panel appointed to hear submissions in relation to the review of the Ballarat Municipal Strategic Statement (Amendment C65 to the Ballarat Planning Scheme) in 2004. 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 Learmonth will be acceptable.

How can you view the draft Plan?

Having developed a draft Plan with input from agencies, community input on the draft Plan was sought until 21 November 2005. Members of the Learmonth community were encouraged to make a submission that indicated feedback on whether it is reflective of the future direction in which the town should take.

You may download the Draft Learmonth Structure Plan and Attachments (see end of page for attachment links).

Public Exhibition of the Draft Plan

The draft Plan was placed on exhibition between 18 October and 21 November 2005.

A public meeting was held to discuss the Plan at the Learmonth Bowling Club on Tuesday, 15 November 2005.

A number of submissions were received which have been considered in the development of the Plan.

What happens next?

A stakeholder consultation has been conducted in the process of a review of the Lake Learmonth Master Plan in light of climate change and reduced inflows to the lake.   A revised Master Plan together with management recommendations will be prepared for Council and DSE.

Council will be looking at reviewing the Learmonth Structure Plan to respect the outcomes of this Master Plan review and it is envisaged to be finalised before the end of 2007.

What relationship does the Structure Plan have to Amendment C87?

Amendment C87 sought to rezone land fronting Selwoods Road, north of Learmonth, from Rural Zone to a Special Use Zone and included a planning permit application for use and development of the land for a saleyard and abattoir.

The saleyard and abattoir development proposed by the Amendment was a separate project to the planning process being initiated for the draft Learmonth Structure Plan. The Structure Plan will provide broad strategic direction for planning of the township, whereas Amendment C87 was a specific development proposal close to the township.

The Amendment and proposed facility would have lead to some changes for the township, with potential for the development to reverse its social and economic decline of recent years. Amendment C87 to the Ballarat Planning Scheme was placed on public exhibition between 18 October and 21 November 2005 and the draft Structure Plan was placed on exhibition at the same time, so that the community could comment on the key issues raised by the Plan, and understand possible implications from the saleyard and abattoir proposal on the future growth of the town.

A special Council Meeting was held on 19 December 2005, for Council to consider submissions received over the exhibition period. Council resolved at this meeting, to refer the submissions to an independent Panel.

The Panel hearing was held between 6 March and 28 March 2006. The Panel Reports recommendation was for the City of Ballarat to abandon Amendment C87 and to not issue a planning permit for the use and development of the proposed saleyards and abattoir on the subject land.

The Council considered Relocation of Ballarat Saleyards & Proposed Abattoir at Learmonth (Planning Scheme Amendment C87) at its meeting on 28 June 2006, and in brief, resolved not to proceed with the proposed amendment and its associated planning permit.

Related Content

• Relocation of Ballarat Saleyards & Proposed Abattoir at Learmonth (Planning Scheme Amendment C87)