More Ballarat residents to fight industrial re-zoning

By Marcus Power
Updated November 2 2012 - 3:19pm, first published November 10 2010 - 2:43pm
SITE: Land earmarked in Alfredton for future industrial use.
SITE: Land earmarked in Alfredton for future industrial use.

ANOTHER group of Ballarat residents is preparing to fight possible expansion of industrial land at the city's fringes. The Ballarat City Council last night approved a motion to refer amendment C138 to an independent planning panel for assessment.The amendment has identified six locations at Alfredton West, Mt Rowan, and north and south of the Ballarat Airport as possible future industrial land sites.Alfredton residents have been vocal in their opposition to a plans to earmark farmland north of Carngham Road for future industrial three re-zoning.Last night, several residents voiced concerns about having industrial land close to their houses, issues including pollution and increased anti-social activity.The owner of the land, Bill Byrne, questioned the demand for industrial land in the area, citing nearby Icon Park as an example of a industrial estate that had failed to attract enough tenants.But a report recommended the council submit to the panel that the boundary proposed for the industrial three zone be moved 300m further away from Alfredton Drive residents.Mt Rowan landowners are also gearing up to oppose a possible future re-zoning of land to industrial in their area, and not for the first time. A 55ha parcel of land north of the Western Freeway was previously mooted as future industrial one zoned land as part of amendment C88 in 2006.The council voted to refer the same piece of land to Panels Victoria which found the land should be deleted from the overall framework plan as a future industrial area. But the panel also found the Ballarat Industrial Land use strategy 2005 had underestimated the demand for industrial land in the city."The Mt Rowan community will oppose it violently at the panel," resident Grant Tillet said after the meeting. The motion passed with unanimous approval after two hours of debate, though just five of the nine councillors were in the chamber.Mayor Judy Verlin and Cr Cheryl Bromfield were apologies, while Cr Ben Taylor is on a leave of absence.Cr Noel Perry also did not take part in the debate.He declared an indirect interest in the vote due to an association with an owner of land south of Carngham Road zoned for industrial use. Fees for the panel hearings will be met by the council's 2010-11 budget.

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