North Growth Zone on a $3 million pathway to 6000 houses

On Wednesday, December 6, CHW announced their Ballarat North Trunk Sewer Project which marks the start of major infrastructure development for the growth zone.

The $3 million project includes one kilometre of sewer piping to contribute to securing wastewater for a planned 6000 houses for the area.

The Ballarat North Growth Zone was identified by the Victorian Government and in February 2022, the City of Ballarat council supported the rezoning of the three new growth areas - the Northern, the Western and the North-Western growth areas - to deliver needed infrastructure, services and housing as the community grows.

The north growth area covers parts of Mount Rowan and Miners Rest.

The growth area also needs the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to prepare the required Precinct Structure Plan (PSP), Developer Contribution Plan and Planning Scheme Amendment.

The council confirmed these are progressing and was paramount for the next stages of the growth area.

Ballarat development and growth director Natalie Robertson said PSP is currently in the early stages of development.

"All land uses, including details such as schools, medical facilities and retail will be determined by technical reports and set out in the final PSP," she said.

Annually, Ballarat's population is growing around two-per cent and is anticipated to have a population of 170,000 by 2041- the current population is 117,000.

Once the one kilometre of piping is completed, the relocated Ballarat Showgrounds and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) Mount Rowan Office and Regional Depot facility will be connected to the trunk sewer and will provide access to our wastewater network services.

The Ballarat North Trunk Sewer Project has commenced and is expected to be completed by the end of June 2024.

It is expected that the PSP will be incorporated into the Ballarat Planning Scheme by 2026.