Dowling Forest Equine Precinct plan: scheme sent to mediators

At a planning meeting this month, councillors voted by a majority to refer the Dowling Forest Equine Precinct plan in Miners Rest to external mediators.

The plan outlines significant suggested changes to planning controls, which will be written into the overall Ballarat scheme once they are finalised.

The planning scheme was changed in 2012 to encourage the development of thoroughbred racing industry.

However, many trainers based themselves at the racecourse itself, and landowners in the area protested against what they felt were over-restrictive controls.

IN DEPTH: Change in sight for landowners around Miners Rest racecourse

The most contentious was the so-called Special Use Zone 13 (SUZ13), which said land needed to be used for the development of the thoroughbred horse racing industry.

Under the changes proposed, zoning for 26 properties would be changed to a new Special Use Zone 19 to allow landowners to develop the sites for a wider range of purposes.

Submissions that were not resolved included an objection to the support of the racing industry on animal welfare grounds; another was made on behalf of property owners wishing to be included in the precinct zoning.

The scheme has gone before council previously but has not been finalised.

IN OTHER NEWS

North ward councillor Peter Eddy said: "This is one of those issues that has been unable to be resolved for a period of time."

"I don't believe we were going to be able to get all parties happy with a resolution. I felt we had got to a time when we needed an independent umpire. There is a lot of people who are happy with the process and the decisions that want to get on with their lives."

A City of Ballarat spokesperson said: "The Council is now preparing the documentation to provide to the Minister to seek the establishment of a panel to consider this amendment.

"Correspondence will go to the Minister in the next week and we will seek an indication of the timing once the Minister is in receipt of the request.

"The formation of the panel will be considered in due course. Independent panels are generally populated with recognised technical and legal experts based on the type of matter before the panel."

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