The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning has authorised the reclassification of the core part of Ballarat’s northern growth area to an urban growth zone.
Ballarat is home to more than 115,000 people but that number is expected to balloon to over 144,000 in the next eight years, a 25 per cent increase.
The new area should accommodate up to 6000 houses and potentially some 15,000 residents, Ballarat City Council said.
Mayor Daniel Moloney said sustainably managing the city’s population growth was critical.
“It’s important that … residential growth is staged to ensure development is in line with environmental principles,” he said.
Landscape assessments would be conducted on Mt Rowan, located in the northern growth area, to ensure its protection, the council said.
The northern growth zone was one of three growth zones Ballarat City Council identified for rezoning at a meeting earlier in 2022.
The council said it would work with the Victorian Planning Authority to review Ballarat’s other greenfield land and urban renewal areas and plan for the staging of more residential growth.
Source: Cessnock Advertiser.