An important step in planning for the city's future housing demand has been taken which will help accommodate more than 55,000 new residents that will call Ballarat home in the coming years.
Ballarat City Council received a report on the final Housing Strategy and Growth Areas Framework Plan at its August Planning meeting. Councillors discussed the reports and resolved to adopt the strategy and framework plan.
As a planning authority, the City of Ballarat has a responsibility to plan housing growth for at least a 15-year period across the municipality. Plans to ensure housing in both infill and greenfield areas will now be rolled out.
Following the adoption of the Housing Strategy and Growth Areas Framework Plan, Council discussed the importance of progressing the implementation of the strategies into the Ballarat Planning Scheme to assist in managing the challenges and opportunities facing Ballarat's population and housing growth.
A resolution was made to seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare a Ballarat Planning Scheme Amendment to implement the recommendations of the Ballarat Housing Strategy and Growth Areas Framework Plan into the planning scheme.
It was acknowledged by Councillors that further strategic work is required to bring both documents into full effect.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said both documents are vital to planning for how Ballarat will grow to accommodate more people in both growth areas and existing areas.
"The Growth Areas Framework Plan will be a blueprint for how the city should plan for the roll out of its growth areas," he said.
"The plan will ensure that Ballarat remains a regional settlement, with its own unique identity.
"Whereas the Housing Strategy will provide strategic direction to introduce planning tools to enable the delivery of more housing in established areas with existing infrastructure, transport and facilities."
