Rural Areas Review

What are the Objectives of the Review?

In response to the Minister for Planning's review, the Ballarat Rural Areas Review has been prepared to investigate and address:

• the application of the existing rural zones and overlays which apply to the City of Ballarat's rural areas
• the existing and preferred future land uses within and the appearance of rural areas
• the opportunities for different agricultural uses in the City of Ballarat's rural areas
• the appropriateness of existing rural living areas and the opportunities for new housing and subdivisions within the existing rural and rural living areas
• whether new housing and subdivision opportunities should continue to be provided and if so, in what form and where
• to recommend new rural zones and overlays within the City of Ballarat's rural areas

The Review examined the municipalities rural areas with the view to identifying where key changes to planning policy and provisions are needed. The report examined agriculture, rural residential living and environmental issues.

Key Findings

The report identified:

• A majority of rural land is of high to very high productive quality
• Agricultural uses support a $40 million industry that includes broad acre crops, grazing and potatoes not including the business linked to food manufacturing
• There is a 19 year supply of rural residential land calculated on the existing take up rate of vacant rural residential lots.
• A minor increase in rural population is forecast
• The number of people in rural households on average, is larger than those in urban households
• Salinity, erosion and floodplain management, habitat and biodiversity retention are some of the environmental issues occurring in our rural areas

The report has examined and mapped in detail the agricultural productivity of Ballarat's rural areas as well as environmental issues affecting them. The report also examined rural lifestyle land use in terms of whether additional rural residential land is needed and where new rural residential land should be located.

An assessment of the social and demographic profile of rural residents and the economic contribution that agriculture commodities make to Ballarat, was also undertaken.
(see Appendix B (PDF - 620KB), Appendix C (PDF - 117KB), Appendix D (PDF - 76KB) and Appendix F (PDF - 78KB))

The report used this information to assess eleven areas (districts) and has made recommendations on the planning provisions for these areas.
(see Chapter 6 Rural District Assessment (PDF - 610KB))

The report has then taken a more detailed look at fourteen areas (precincts) where there are more complex planning issues to deal with.
(see Chapter 7 Rural Precinct Assessment (PDF - 1798KB))

In general, the report recommends some changes to the Municipal Strategic Statement, some zone and overlay changes and the introduction of two new planning policies as part of a Rural Strategy.

(see Chapter 9 Recommended Planning Scheme Changes (PDF - 55KB))

The report has recommended that for the majority of rural land in the north, west and east of the municipality, no change from the Farming Zone is necessary.  However, there are some discrete areas where a zone change may be considered. The report also recommends a change in the planning policy for the way in which rural residential development and rural land uses are managed through the planning system.

Consultation

The draft Rural Areas Review (RAR) was exhibited in November 2007.  Submissions to the Plan closed at 5.00pm Friday, 30 November 2007 

Download the Rural Areas Review Executive Summary (PDF - 1326KB) for an overview of the report.

Alternatively, the full report is available to download in 16 parts from the links below.

1. RAR Front Page, Contents & Executive Summary (PDF - 1356KB)
2. RAR Chapter 1 - Introduction (PDF - 422KB)
3. RAR Chapter 2 - Study Approach (PDF - 78KB)
4. RAR Chapter 3 - Rural Land Uses (PDF - 1877KB)
5. RAR Chapter 4 - Legislative and Policy Context (PDF - 906KB)
6. RAR Chapter 5 - New Rural Zones (PDF - 64KB)
7. RAR Chapter 6 - Rural District Assessment (PDF - 610KB)
8. RAR Chapter 7 - Rural Precinct Assessment (PDF - 1798KB)
9. RAR Chapter 8 - Ballarat Rural Strategy (PDF - 278KB)
10. RAR Chapter 9 - Recommended Planning Scheme Changes (PDF - 55KB)
11. RAR Chapter 10 - Implementation (PDF - 49KB)
12. Appendix A - References (PDF - 44KB)
13. Appendix B - Demographic Profile (PDF - 620KB)
14. Appendix C - Economic Contribution of Rural Areas (PDF - 117KB)
15. Appendix D - Environmental Values (PDF - 76KB)
16. Appendix E - Strategic Assessment of Productive Agricultural Quality (PDF - 307KB)
17. Appendix F - Rural Land Supply Summary (PDF - 78KB)

A public information session was held on 12 November 2007 to explain the results and recommendations of the report.

What happens next?

Council will assess the submissions received and refine the draft RAR where appropriate. The report is expected to be presented to Council for consideration in early 2008.

Related Content

Rural Zones Translation

Links