Have your say: Ballarat Health, Knowledge and City Living Precinct Draft Master Plan

The community is invited to have its say on the future of the Ballarat Health, Knowledge and City Living Precinct Draft Master Plan. 

After extensive community consultation and research on the future of this vital area, the Draft Master Plan guides future planning and improvements to the precinct. It aims to create a precinct that: 

is accessible, friendly, safe and attractive for people of all ages and abilities  has vibrant open spaces and streetscapes where people want to gather and spend time  improves access and movement, including walking, cycling and parking  creates jobs  provides world-class health and educational services  improves public transport connections, and  preserves the precinct's unique and beautiful historic character and brings it to life with people and activity. 

The Draft Master Plan features eight priority projects to improve the functioning and liveability of the precinct, including creating a civic 'heart' through public spaces, shared multi-deck car parking, road space renewal, shared theatrettes and community spaces, an integrated research hub, short-term housing and accommodation, precinct greening and consolidated consultant suites. 

The City of Ballarat is now encouraging the community to have its say on this important vision for this growing precinct – which serves as a hub for health and education services and is also home to a significant residential population. 

Ballarat is western Victoria's largest provider of health care, delivering services to a region of more than 250,000 people. 

The precinct is broadly bounded by Pleasant Street, Webster Street, Lyons Street, Creswick Road and Eyre Street. It includes the major health and educational facilities, including Ballarat Base Hospital, St John of God Hospital Ballarat, Australia Catholic University and Clarendon College junior campus. 

The Ballarat Health, Knowledge and City Living Precinct Draft Master Plan is available online at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au, and at City of Ballarat Customer Service, 25 Armstrong Street South, and at Town Hall, Sturt Street. 

Community feedback will inform the Final Master Plan, which is expected to be completed before the end of the year. 

Submissions close Friday 3 August and can be made online, emailed to strategicplanning [at] ballarat.vic.gov.au or posted to Strategic Planning, City of Ballarat, PO Box 655 Ballarat, VIC, 3353. 

A drop-in session for community members will be held on Tuesday 17 July, from 2-6.30pm, at The City Oval Bowling Club, 1406 Sturt Street, Lake Wendouree.