ARARAT SUSTAINABLE GROWTH FUTURE FINAL REPORT FEBRUARY 2014 © Planisphere 2014. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. PROJECT CONTROL NAME NO. PM APPROVED PD APPROVED DATE DRAFT FOR COMMENT 1 NO JLR 6 SEP 2013 CONSULTATION DRAFT (V1) 2 KP JLR 8 OCT 2013 CONSULTATION DRAFT (V2) 3 KP JLR 31 OCT 2013 FINAL REPORT (V1) 4 KP JLR 23 JAN 2014 FINAL REPORT (V2) 5 JLR JLR 14 FEB 2014 The Study Team recognises that the State of Victoria has an ancient and proud Aboriginal history and complex ownership and land stewardship systems stretching back many thousands of years. We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this land, and offer our respect to the past and present Elders and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Ararat Sustainable Growth Future Strategy | FINAL REPORT: FEBRUARY 2014 2 Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction 4 Chapter 5. Sustainable Growth Plan 43 1.1 Purpose 5 5.1 Introduction 44 1.2 Background 5 5.2 Draft Vision 44 1.3 The Study Area 5 5.3 Principles 44 1.4 The Study Team 7 5.4 Directions & Policy Responses 45 1.5 Approach 7 5.5 Settlement Hierarchy 46 1.6 Consultation 7 Chapter 6. Ararat in Future 47 Chapter 2. The Rural City in Context 8 6.1 Introduction 48 2.1 Introduction 9 6.2 Existing Infrastructure 48 2.2 Strategic Context 9 6.3 Settlement Role 48 2.3 Key Influences 9 6.4 Current Strategic Direction 48 2.4 Municipal Profile 11 6.5 Issues, Opportunities & Constraints 51 2.5 Key Drivers of Change 14 6.6 Future Growth Recommendations 53 Chapter 3. Setting a Framework for Growth: Residential Land Use 16 Chapter 7. Small Towns Strategy 57 3.1 Introduction 17 Introduction 58 3.2 Housing Growth 17 Lake Bolac 59 3.3 Residential Land Use 17 Willaura 66 Pomonal 72 Chapter 4. Setting a Framework for Growth: Non-Residential Land Use 27 Moyston 78 4.1 Introduction 28 Elmhurst 84 4.2 Business Confidence Survey 28 Buangor 89 4.3 Retail Land Use 29 4.4 Commercial Land Use 32 Chapter 8. Implementation 94 4.5 Industrial Land Use 33 8.1 Planning Scheme Implementation Recommendations 95 4.6 Tourism 38 8.2 Timeline for Implementation 95 4.7 Critical Considerations 40 Appendices 98 Appendix A: Strategic Context Appendix B: Ararat SGF Property and Economic Analysis Report, Urban Enterprise (August 2013) Appendix C: Proposed Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) changes Ararat Sustainable Growth Future Strategy | FINAL REPORT: FEBRUARY 2014 3 Chapter 1. Introduction Ararat Sustainable Growth Future Strategy | FINAL REPORT: FEBRUARY 2014 4 Introduction 1.1 Purpose 1.2 Background Importantly, the Strategy seeks to apply a regional 1.3 The Study Area approach to strategic planning and economic Ararat Rural City Council is preparing a Sustainable Ararat Rural City is located approximately 200km north- development across the municipality, including planning The study area for the SGF Strategy focuses on the Growth Future Strategy (SGF Strategy) to provide an west of metropolitan Melbourne. Approximately 4,230 for tourism, business attraction and retail diversity. principal settlement of Ararat and the key population integrated framework for managing the future growth sq kilometres in area, the municipality is home to around centres of Willaura, Lake Bolac, Moyston, Pomonal, and development of the municipality over the next 25 11,183 people (ABS Census 2011), 7,500 of whom reside in The project includes two core components: Elmhurst and Buangor. (Refer to the Study Area Map on years. the township of Ararat, with the remainder spread across the following page). • Land Supply and Demand Analysis: to understand a number of smaller townships and rural living areas. The purpose of the SGF Strategy is: the location, demand and capacity of residential, The study area also encompasses the smaller rural The population is projected to grow to 13,925 residents commercial, retail, and industrial land throughout the localities of Wickliffe, Streatham, Mininera, Westmere, • To prepare an integrated land use strategy to manage over the next 20 years (Victoria in Future 2012). This will municipality. Tatyoon, Moroona, Middle Creek, Warrak and Mount the future growth and development of Ararat and reverse the trend experienced between 1991 to 2006, a Cole, however a detailed analysis of these smaller rural • Small Towns Strategy: to guide the future role, small towns within the municipality; and period which saw a decrease in population. settlements has not been undertaken as part of this function, growth and development of the • To provide high level strategic direction to inform the project. A number of major projects, such as the $300M Ararat municipality’s smaller settlements. update of Council’s MSS. Prison redevelopment, the Western Highway Duplication It is important to note that although agricultural land plays A key output of the project will be a set of updated and National Broadband Network, have given impetus a significant role in the identity, landscape and economic Framework Plans to sit within the Ararat Planning Scheme to economic development in Ararat and, alongside a contribution of the municipality, the focus of the SGF MSS. The updated plans will reflect the analysis, data demand for rural living opportunities, are key drivers of Strategy is on urban and rural living land. and strategic directions identified throughout the SGF projected population growth. Strategy. The anticipated growth and change of the municipality has highlighted the need to plan for the future of Ararat Rural City to ensure local needs are met and suitable land, services and infrastructure are available to meet demand. Council’s Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) was The Strategy seeks last reviewed in 2004 and the opportunity exists to undertake a major revision to reflect current optimism in to apply a regional the future growth potential of Ararat Rural City. A recent policy-neutral rewrite of the MSS and Local Policies has been undertaken to modernise the MSS structure. approach to Considerable strategic work has also been undertaken since the last review and this needs to be drawn together strategic planning to inform the updated MSS. Council has identified several remaining gaps in the and economic available strategic information, particularly in relation to the supply of commercial, retail, industrial and residential development land in Ararat and key townships. This project therefore seeks to review the current MSS, across the integrate recent strategic work and address a number of strategic gaps. municipality. Ararat Sustainable Growth Future Strategy | FINAL REPORT: FEBRUARY 2014 5 LEGEND Rural City of Ararat Municipal Boundary Study Area Map Municipal Centre LEGEND Small Town ELMHURST Rural City of Ararat RuralMunicipal Village Boundary POMONAL Rural Locality Municipal Centre Draft Central HighlandsSmall Town Regional Growth Plan ARARAT ELMHURST (2013) designated future settlement role: MOYSTON Rural Village POMONAL Regional Centre Grampians Rural Locality National Park BUANGOR Small Town Draft Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan ARARAT (2013) designated future settlement role: MOYSTON MAROONA Regional Centre Grampians National Park BUANGOR Small Town TATYOON WILLAURA MAROONA MININERA TATYOON WILLAURA STREATHAM WESTMERE WICKLIFFE LAKE BOLAC MININERA STREATHAM WESTMERE WICKLIFFE LAKE BOLAC Ararat Sustainable Growth Future Strategy | FINAL REPORT: FEBRUARY 2014 6 N N 1.4 The Study Team SCOPING SUMMIT PROJECT STAGES CONSULTATION Planisphere, in partnership with Urban Enterprise, has been A half day Scoping Summit was held on the 28th May at commissioned by Council to prepare the SGF Strategy. Key the Gum San Conference Centre in Ararat. The purpose of roles of the consultant team have been as follows: the Scoping Summit was to gain an understanding of the Stage 1 key issues, opportunities and constraints facing Ararat and APRIL Planisphere: Project Management, Planning & Urban other key settlements throughout the municipality. The Design. Scoping Summit was attended by a number of Council Incepti on Urban Enterprise: Economic Analysis, Land Demand & officers, government agencies and service providers. MAY >> Supply Analysis. Scoping Summit BUSINESS WORKSHOPS Importantly, the Strategy has been developed in close Business Workshops collaboration with Council by means of a Project Steering Two business/retail workshops were held on the 27th and Community Workshops Group representing a range of council departments 28th of May in Ararat with local businesses, retailers and Stage 2 including strategic planning, statutory planning, economic developers. The purpose of the workshops was to gain development, community services and engineering. an understanding of the existing issues, opportunities and Analysis & constraints facing local businesses, retailers and developers within the municipality, particularly Ararat. Consultati on 1.5 Approach The project is being undertaken in four stages as outlined in BUSINESS CONFIDENCE SURVEY >> >> the process diagram opposite. A Business Confidence Survey was distributed in May and The project in currently in Stage 3: Draft Strategy. The June 2013 to provide an overview of current business Draft SGF Strategy has been prepared through undertaking conditions and confidence within Ararat Rural City. There Stage 3 extensive background research and analysis, township were 31 responses from businesses across the municipality. surveys, a land supply and demand analysis, and targeted