Works have begun on the sites of two of Ballarat’s most controversial medium density builds, as City of Ballarat continues an ambitious focus on infill development.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Visible preparatory works have started on the site of the former Ballarat Orphanage site on Victoria Street.
As reported in The Courier on Friday, works to clear the former Anglican school site on St Paul's Way in readiness for development have also begun.
A ‘high priority’ of City of Ballarat’s passed planning scheme amendment in October was the preparation of a compact city plan, which states they will ‘encourage 50 per cent of future housing development to occur in established neighbourhoods’.
This is despite current population growth being concentrated in the newer suburbs of Alfredton and Delacombe. Australian Bureau of Statistics data released this year shows resident numbers in the centre of Ballarat actually went backwards, with a decline of 0.6 per cent over a year, or 72 people.
South Ward councillor Jim Rinaldi – whose ward takes in Delacombe, which experienced 4 per cent population growth between 2016 and 2017 – said the tide is turning to infill developments in the centre of town.
“It’s central to the transport, such as the train station,” he said. “With Lucas and developments out there, you’re a fair way out from the CBD of our city.
“Infill development must be respectful to the area where it’s going into, that’s vital.”
In December last year, council approved a Ballarat Orphanage site development plan which allowed for 41 residential allotments. A proposal to also develop a Ryan’s IGA at 200 Victoria Street was lodged with council at the end of April this year.
Central ward councillor Mark Harris said that on figures in his ward, the “re-population” and significant changing face of Ballarat’s centre was now under way.
“The amount of folk moving into Central Ward … you see parallels in a lot of Melbourne suburbs, and if you get a growth dynamic in a regional city that’ll happen,” he said.
“If you’re looking at prices of houses as a guide, there’s a genuine upward pressure for what would be high-end houses in Ballarat, but would probably be in comparison a modest buy for a public servant coming up here.”
