Infrastructure & local insights
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The City of Ballarat has plans to enhance Ballarat’s natural and built assets with a $47.6 million investment over the next 12 months to upgrade roads, bridges, foot and bike paths, sporting ovals and community hubs.
Over the next two decades, Ballarat West Employment Zone will drive growth in the city. The 438 hectare manufacturing, agribusiness, construction, freight and research hub adjacent to Ballarat Airport is expected to create up to 9000 jobs and inject $5 billion per year into the economy. Meanwhile, the $4 million upgrade to the airport runway will improve transport connections, support business expansion and further stimulate crucial economic activity in the region.
In the longer term, delivery of the second stage of the Ballarat Link Road will create a north–south link in Ballarat’s biggest urban growth area, connecting the city centre with major regional highways and enhancing transportation infrastructure in the region.
Tenants continue to flock to the new Ballarat GovHub in the heart of the city, which will ultimately house 1000 workers, including 600 public sector jobs either newly created or relocated from Melbourne.
Upgrades to the Ballarat train line have enhanced liveability, with an additional 135 weekly services, including 20-minute services during peak times. The introduction of capped fares from 31 March 2023 for regional weekday trips has made daily commutes a much more affordable option for the growing commuter population.
Construction is slated to commence next year on the $541 million redevelopment of the Ballarat Base Hospital, with a new emergency department and 100 additional inpatient and short-stay beds set to be delivered by 2027. The project will boost the hospital’s capacity to treat an additional 18,000 emergency patients per year and create up to 1000 full-time positions.
The City of Ballarat has plans to enhance Ballarat’s natural and built assets with a $47.6 million investment over the next 12 months to upgrade roads, bridges, foot and bike paths, sporting ovals and community hubs.
In the booming west, where the population will balloon by 73 per cent by 2036, a community hub on Donegal Drive will next year provide a 100-place kindergarten and community rooms.
Other projects include the continuation of Alfredton and Wendouree West Recreation Reserves and a $12.8 million injection to fund the Bakery Hill Urban Renewal Project and Ballarat Central Library Redevelopment. More than $2 million has been committed to complete restoration works at Her Majesty’s Theatre to strengthen Ballarat’s performing arts scene.
Castlemaine, Daylesford & Woodend
Regions around Central Victoria remain highly sought-after with Melburnians seeking out the enviable lifestyle on offer. This influx of new residents is being supported by significant council and government investment to deliver vital infrastructure and upgrades that position the region for future growth.
In the Mount Alexander Shire, work continues on the Maldon Streetscape Revitalisation Project, with a focus on restoring shopfronts and improving amenity with underground powerlines, new footpaths, lights and street furniture. The council has plans for a range of improvements across the region, including a $1.6 million upgrade to the Frederick Street precinct in Castlemaine and a $510,000 new youth space and playground renewal at Taradale Mineral Springs Reserve. Sporting facilities are also in line for upgrades, including new change rooms and lighting at the Bill Woodfull Recreation Reserve in Maldon and new floodlights at the Harcourt Recreation Reserve. Construction has begun to add two new pedestrian crossings to improve safety and accessibility along Walker Street.
In the Hepburn Shire, the Creswick Trails project is expected to be completed next year, providing a network of 60km of purpose-built mountain-bike trails. Construction is also underway on the $4.6 million Trentham Community Hub, which will include a new library, visitor information centre and community hall. Heritage works are being carried out on the historic Creswick Town Hall in the heart of Creswick, adding to the region's rich cultural history. The Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens in Daylesford will get a facelift to enhance the visitor experience, including improvements to the Alf Headland Conservatory, the forecourt of the Pioneer Memorial Tower, and the day basin and fernery cascade waterfall. And the redevelopment of the iconic Rex Theatre will bring the much-loved Daylesford building back to life.
The Macedon Ranges region is set to benefit from a range of projects. The multi-million-dollar Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct is on track for completion by the end of 2024, and a $9 million redevelopment of the Woodend Community Centre is on the cards. Lancefield’s $3 million kindergarten and maternal child health service will open early next year, and the final stage of luxury over-50s lifestyle resort GemLife Woodend has been released. Large-scale new land releases continue to come onto the market in Gisborne and the Shire has plans for more than 40 new initiatives to support its growth, including upgrades to key sporting facilities such as the netball courts at the Kyneton Showgrounds, lighting upgrades at the Riddells Creek Recreation Reserve and new tennis courts in New Gisborne.
