The time of dilapidated buildings dotting Ballarat City streets could soon be over thanks to new local laws.
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Ballarat City Council will vote on its local laws 2017 on Wednesday night.
It includes a proposal to allow staff to fine owners who allow their property to become unsafe or fall into disrepair.
The new laws ensure property owners;
- Must not permit any structure to become dilapidated or further dilapidated.
- Take all reasonable steps to secure the building and land from unauthorised access.
- Maintain any building in a state of good repair and appearance, including undertaking temporary repairs as required to ensure on-site safety and security and to avoid the appearance of neglect out of character with other allotments in the vicinity.
- Must not allow any graffiti to remain on any building, wall, fence, post or other structure or object erected on that land.
Ballarat City mayor Samantha McIntosh said she expected staff to enforce the laws immediately.
“We have seen in the past many examples where we have lost whole buildings, and it definitely makes a big change to our streetscape,” she said.
“Ballarat is known for its intactness – street after street, house after house of heritage built form – this is a treat most other cities don’t have.
“It is about looking after the community, looking at what we have got, so people can see great outcomes on the streets.”
