Ballarat West Growth Zone
Two projects have merged to create the Ballarat West Growth Zone project: the Western Arterial Road Link and Ballarat West Employment Zone projects.
Chair
Glen Walker, MaxiTRANS
Task Team
Adrian Doyle, Leader Property Practice; Peter Flynn, W M Flynn Pty Ltd; Mike Kaufmann, Kaufmann Property Consultants; David O’Sullivan, Vic Roads; Cr John Philips, City of Ballarat; Jamie Sargeant, Sargeant Transport; Paul Stephens, Nevett Ford; Tony Stone, Selkirk Group of Companies; Doug Lloyd, CEO, Committee for Ballarat
Western Arterial Road Link (WARL)
Key Issues
There are deficiencies with the existing Ballarat road network caused by regional through traffic (especially large trucks) impacting negatively on amenity and congestion.
Transport access issues for businesses, industries and new residential developments in Ballarat’s north-western and south-western quadrants need to be addressed.
VicRoads and City of Ballarat have identified the need for a Ballarat arterial road in their trategic planning. Such a project needs support to secure funding and bring forward the current proposed schedule so that objectives of the strategic plan can be met.
Community debate needs to commence and broad consensus needs to be reached so that future decisions are taken with this arterial link in mind.
Key Objectives
To create a safer, more liveable and efficient city by diverting through traffic.
To develop road transport options to address the needs of business, industry and residents, including increased efficiency for both destination and through traffic (safer travel, fewer emissions, increased fuel and time efficiency.)
To facilitate bringing forward by up to 15 years the planning activities of Stage 1 of VicRoads and City of Ballarat’s master planning for an arterial road linking the Western Highway and Midland Highway (south) on the western fringe of Ballarat.
To ensure a road reservation is identified and protected for the full length of the alignment and that budgets allow for any compulsory acquisition that may be required.
Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ)
Key Issues
There is an adequate supply of good quality smaller industrial lots in Ballarat, but there is a need for larger lots with good proximity to transport infrastructure.*per the recently adopted Industrial Land Use Strategy
Ballarat is a national leader in aspects of employment, and commercial and light industrial developments. It must continue showing leadership, including developing new approaches to employment and business opportunities.
It is critical that options are available now, as Ballarat’s strategic position remains ideal and equivalent opportunities in Melbourne become more problematic – without space and facilitation, opportunities will be lost to other regional centres or nations.
Key Objectives
To ensure the construction of a state-of-the-art employment zone at the Ballarat airport site in partnership with City of Ballarat and in consultation with the business sector. This will provide essential new infrastructure for employment and business growth, economic activity and consequential social development in Ballarat and the region.
To improve Ballarat’s overall economic and employment profile and foster related social and community development by attracting new investment.
To facilitate support for City of Ballarat’s master planning for the airport precinct within six months and provide support for securing all planning approvals and land acquisition necessary in order to commence construction of Stage 1 within two years and occupancy within two and a half years.
