Ballarat's leading organisations have united to launch Ballarat. Now and Into the Future: Enabling Growth 2026 in the lead up to the 2026 Victorian state election.
Key figures of the eight organisation-partnership recently gathered to launch the campaign at Sovereign Hill which features its key project, The Gold Vault - a transformational new visitor experience that will elevate Ballarat's tourism offering and strengthen the regional economy.
The Gold Vault will be a 1,000 square‑metre immersive experience featuring interactive digital installations, dramatic lighting and curated displays of rare artefacts from Sovereign Hill, the Victorian State Collection and other leading institutions.
This major new drawcard for visitors to Ballarat is expected to increase visitation by 74,000 visitors annually.
The partnership of eight organisations, representing the health, education, tourism, commercial, local government and advocacy sectors, has called for the infrastructure and investment required to enable sustainable growth as Ballarat's population continues to rise. The city's population reached 121,050 in 2024 and is forecast to grow to 164,365 by 2046.
Up to 17,200 new homes are planned to be accommodated in the Ballarat West Growth Area, located in parts of Delacombe, Alfredton, Winter Valley and Lucas, and up to 6,000 new homes in the new North Growth Area, located in parts of Mount Rowan and Miners Rest.
Ballarat. Now and Into the Future: Enabling Growth is supported by Australian Catholic University Ballarat, Central Highlands Water, City of Ballarat, Commerce Ballarat, Committee for Ballarat, Federation University, Grampians Health and Sovereign Hill.
The latest iteration of Ballarat. Now and Into the Future features eight projects in four core growth areas, including:
Enabling Community
- Wendouree Library and Learning Centre - providing library and other community services to residents and meeting the needs of Ballarat's new northern growth zone.
Enabling Infrastructure
- Housing and Growth Enabling Infrastructure Package - eight projects delivering key road, water and sewer infrastructure to fast-track thousands of new homes.
- Ballarat-Carngham Road Upgrade and Dyson Drive Duplication - delivering vital improvements to key transport corridors in Ballarat's fastest growing suburbs
Enabling Regional Investment
- Circular Economy Precinct - supporting regional waste innovation and sustainability
- Western Victoria Aviation Precinct Ballarat - enabling critical aeromedical and emergency services
Enabling Workforce and Economic Growth
- Ballarat University Town - leveraging Federation University's existing assets to drive economic, cultural and education growth, attracting thousands of students into the CBD and energising the city centre
- Sovereign Hill Master Plan: The Gold Vault - a 1,000 square-metre immersive new visitor experience expected to increase visitation by 74,000 visitors annually
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said growth is already reshaping the city.
"Ballarat's growth is happening now, and more growth is earmarked for the future in Ballarat's north and west," she said.
"While growth brings major opportunities it also creates increasing pressure on housing, health, education, transport and community services.
"If we want a strong and liveable city into the future, we need investment made today that reflects the real needs of our community.
"In the lead up to the election, we will be advocating to all sides of politics that these are the kind of future-focused projects Ballarat needs."
The joint advocacy campaign includes a Federation University Australia project to leverage its assets in the Ballarat CBD, positioning Ballarat as a genuine University Town.
A key project within the campaign is the proposed Wendouree Library and Learning Centre, designed to serve both established suburbs and more than 15,400 future residents in the new North Growth Area.
This multipurpose facility will play a critical role in supporting education, digital access, community connection and lifelong learning for generations to come.
Other projects include essential infrastructure, such as water, road and sewer upgrades, which will support housing development for up to 3,500 new homes on 200 hectares in Bonshaw, and a trunk water pipeline to service the new North Growth area.
To view the complete Ballarat. Now and Into the Future: Enabling Growth 2026 suite of projects visit ballaratnow.com
