Wednesday evening at Ballarat City Council's regular Planning Delegated Committee Meeting, Councillors considered applications for 63 Mahers Road Warrenheip, 26-34 Lydiard Street North Ballarat Central and the Lake Wendouree submission.
Planning Application | 63 Mahers Road
The Planning Permit application at 63 Mahers Road Warrenheip, for a proposed hotel, was deferred by six of the nine Councillors in attendance.
The application was deferred in order to provide more detail on several key objections, including road infrastructure, nearby farming land, environmental impacts and the scale of the hotel development.
Officers will work with the applicant to address the concerns more thoroughly and the application may return to the Planning Delegated Committee Meeting in the coming months.
The proposed hotel development requires upgrades to the surrounding road and water infrastructure and the applicant has also been in discussion with the adjoining municipality of Moorabool Shire and Central Highlands Water to discuss the required upgrades.
The hotel would consist of a two-story hotel with 119 rooms. It will offer a function space for 140 people, a public restaurant and bar as well as a gin distillery.
Another condition recommended by the City of Ballarat was to ensure that environmental conditions are specified to protect the local flora and fauna, especially the wedgetail eagles.
Lake Wendouree Submission
Councillors also received an update on Lake Wendouree's proposed listing on the Victorian Heritage Register during the meeting.
The City of Ballarat will send a letter to the Heritage Register supporting Heritage Victoria's recommendation that Lake Wendouree foreshore should be considered for the Victorian Heritage Register, as an area of state level cultural heritage significance.
In its submission, City of Ballarat will reinforce the need for appropriate exemptions to facilitate the operations of the lake specifically in the space of events and will request from Heritage Victoria that standing permit exemptions can be discussed to ensure the smooth operation of sporting and community events.
Planning Application | 26 - 34 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central
Council voted unanimously to approve the extension of the Liquor License to allow the venue to have its acoustic curtains open on the external balcony until 9.30pm, from the previously allowed 6.00pm.
Councillors shared the view that whilst the application was approved it did require further oversight to ensure the venue complies with noise restrictions.
