The City of Ballarat, has welcomed an announcement by the Hon. Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria and the Hon. Denis Napthine, Minister for Regional Cities to fund the next stage of the Ballarat West Employment Zone.
The Premier announced $835,000 in funding to be matched by the City of Ballarat to move the Employment Zone to the next stage.
The $1.67 million project stage will deliver a construction blueprint for the site and make it shovel ready for construction and investment.
Current Mayor of Ballarat, Councillor Mark Harris said the Employment Zone is one of the key projects for Ballarat’s future.
“We have identified the priority projects that are vital for Ballarat and this project is one of the key formative initiatives that will set this city apart.”
He said the Employment Zone would deliver 9000 local jobs on completion and assist Ballarat to remain a self-sustaining economy by injecting $5 billion in additional economic activity.
“The Employment Zone will also deliver land options of a size and scale required to assist new and expanding industries to invest and prosper in Ballarat.
“It will ensure we have the infrastructure and employment opportunities in place to help meet the demands of a growing population.
“The Ballarat West Employment Zone is strategically located near to the airport, rail corridor and the Western highway and will be serviced by the $38 million Western Link Road, due for completion by 2014.
“Locating a facility of this nature in Ballarat’s west will generate jobs for the new suburbs and remove heavy vehicles from the Ballarat CBD.
“We are equally delighted that Major Projects Victoria will take a lead role in the next stage of the Employment Zone development.
“This is the first time they have facilitated a project of this scale in this region and their commitment to the Employment Zone highlights the importance of this initiative,” Councillor Harris said.
