A proposal to rezone part of Ballan will be referred to an independent planning panel after concerns were raised about the effect of population growth on crime, traffic and the environment.
Sixty-five community submissions were received when the planning scheme amendment went on public display.
The amendment proposes to rezone nearly 100 hectares of land within the township of Ballan from a residential zone in a rural setting into a neighbourhood residential zone.
The change would facilitate approximately 930 housing lots.
The area is bounded by the Western Freeway, Geelong-Ballan Road, Old Melbourne Road and the Werribee River.
A neighbourhood residential zone means that there can only be minimal or incremental changes to the degree of housing.
Following ministerial authorisation, the council publicly exhibited the amendment proposal. Sixty-five community submissions were lodged – 53 from residents, five from community groups, five from government agencies, and two from representatives of landowners south of the railway line.
Concerns raised included negative impacts on existing businesses, environmental impacts, and changes to town character – including around the extent of growth, lot sizes, and loss of rural living or agricultural land.
Ballan resident Marcus Ruthen, who spoke at the Moorabool council meeting on May 7, said he was concerned about issues relating to public safety with increased population density and that Ballan “currently lacks 24-hour police presence.”
“Furthermore, our town does not have full-time firefighters to respond to emergencies promptly,” Mr Ruthen said.
He also raised concerns around a lack of medical facilities in Ballan to meet the demands of population growth, an increase in traffic leading to “longer commute times and heightened frustration,” and concerns around Ballan’s primary schools being “already nearly at capacity.”
Other submitters at the council meeting spoke about environmental concerns, including one submitter who expressed concerns around the 2.5 hectare active recreation reserve. They fear an 8-metre cut and infill into a slope in the site could lead to sodic soil runoff spilling into the Werribee River and causing waterway harm.
Wel.Co national head of development Simon MacLennan spoke in favour of the application and said that the organisation is “committed to helping to grow the town.”
“We’re committed to helping to unlock land supply in Ballan … through a considered design, through a considered development, balancing the environment, balancing transport and infrastructure requirements,“ he said.
According to Moorabool council, government agencies are “comfortable with both the proposed rezoning” and planning framework, but all submissions from the agencies sought changes to the amendment.
The council will request the Minister for Planning to establish an independent planning panel to consider all submissions.
