Project dates yet to be confirmed

Horizon Synergy Pty Ltd director David O’Brien, who is developing the site, says that while the project has received all the necessary local council and state planning approvals, there is no immediate plans to begin construction works.

Mr O’Brien didn’t commit to a 2017 start date for works for the $20 million development at 29 St Paul’s Way, but said he would have more information closer to the new year.

“The plans have been endorsed and (Planning Minister Richard Wynne) has signed off on the re-zone and the planning permit,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The permit has conditions and we’re waiting for small bits and pieces (before starting).”

The project will be delivered in five stages, with stage one to feature a three-level, 14-apartment block.

The second stage will see a level-level block built featuring 29 apartments, followed by 13 double storey townhouses, pavilion and piazza community area. Stage four features a four-level, 34-apartment block, with the final stage to see 12 double storey apartments built.

While the development has been opposed by some locals, high density housing as a whole has been recognised as vital infrastructure for rapidly growing cities such as Ballarat.

An independent study of the City of Ballarat’s proposed housing strategy, reported by The Courier in January, 2015, found there could be a shortfall of almost 40,000 dwellings by 2040.

The city’s west has long been earmarked as the council’s preferred location for residential growth and infrastructure, but the report found there was an urgent need to investigate housing outside of the Ballarat west growth zone.

The city’s population is expected to swell from 93,501 to 160,000 by 2040.

A recent Infrastructure Victoria 30-year report recommended enhancing residential intensification on land near existing infrastructure, as opposed to expansion zones.

“This option is to apply planning provisions that enable residential intensification on land near existing infrastructure” the report said, citing Ballarat as a city in need of such development.