Location
Rural Urban fringe in Western Ballarat
6km West of Ballarat’s CBD
West of Alfredton
Located on the Avenue of Honour
125km NW of Melbourne
Research Question
What factors have contributed to the changing land use at Lucas in Ballarat and how has this change positively and negatively impacted the environment as well as the economic and social conditions of the selected area and the surrounding region?
Human Characteristics
- Residential, retail, commercial, education, recreation (mixed land use) development/construction areas
Natural Characteristics
- Relatively flat topography (falling North to South 23 meters and 10 meters East to West). Natural water corridor running from North to South. Ornamental lakes and streams, native vegetation has been planted. 12% open space.
- Cultivated and managed land being converted into artificial surfaces.
Reasons for Land use Change
- And there were limited natural or human made features, at the time there was only one house in the most easterly corner.
- There were only two owners pre-development who mostly used the land for farming
- Need to provide more housing for Ballarat’s growing population
- Growth rate = 1.83%
- Caused by internal migration 2/3 of growth in pop is due to ppl moving from other lial gov areas / 20% of Ballarat’s pop growth moving from overseas
Influence of individuals, organizations and planning strategies
- City of Ballarat (town planning)
- Integra development company
- Planning strategies – Alfredton West Precinct Plan – detailed document developed by the City of Ballarat Council to guide the planning and development of the growth zone.
Local Impacts - Economic
+ Inject wealth into the local economy
+ Development will create jobs in the construction industry
+ Affordable housing
+ Income from retail within Lucas (Woolworths etc.)
- Prices at shops expensive.
- Rent prices for retail shops in expensive, leading to closures of some businesses (e.g.Wilsons)
Local Impacts - Sociocultural
+ convenience of the central shopping precinct
+ Medical facility & swimming centre currently under construction.
+ Two centrally located schools which foster a sense of community (the majority of students are from Lucas).
+ Central park and smaller parks within 500m of every home, community gathering point and place to exercise and enhance wellbeing.
+ Bike paths, footpaths and walking tracks connecting the suburb
+ Community centre promoting public events (such as students painting poppies for an ANZAC commemoration project at the Lucas Town Centre)
- Traffic and congestion are a major issues. Traffic travelling into the CDB during peak times leads to significant congestion and turns a 10 minute drive into a 20+ minute drive. Congestion within the suburb during peak times, at the Coltman Plaza shopping centre it can be difficult to find a park after work and at school pick up the relatively narrow street next to the Primary School doesn’t cope with the extra traffic.
- Public transport isn’t efficient and it takes a significant amount of time to travel to the CBD via a relatively indirect route (possible to take up to an hour). Services aren’t very frequent.
- Residents experience dust from the construction and wind is an issue due to the exposure to the west.
Local Impacts - Environmental
+ 7 parks, 12% open space
+ Natural water course
+ Diverse natural vegetation
+ Energy efficient housing
- Pollution (noise, traffic, dust, rubbish)
- Windy, exposed location
Regional Impacts - Economic
+ Inject wealth into Victoria’s economy $1billion over 14 years.
+ Employment
+ Retail
+ BWEZ will create up to 9000 jobs
- Impact house prices in surrounding region/suburbs
Regional Impacts - Sociocultural
+ Recreation facilities (oval, walking/bike paths)
+ Medical and health facilities
- Viewed as an unattractive and unappealing development.
Regional Impacts - Environmental
+ Management of water runoff.
+ Extensive tree planting and vegetation of natural waterways.
- Pollution in surrounding suburbs. More concrete surfaces, less run off, infiltration, more emissions.
