Amendment C115 - Moorabool Retail Strategy Implementation

Council has prepared Amendment C115moor to the Moorabool Planning Scheme.

The amendment implements the Moorabool Shire Retail Strategy 2024, adopted by Council on 4 September 2024 into the Moorabool Planning Scheme.

A retail strategy is necessary to ensure Council is setting clear expectations for developers and investors, and to provide strategic justification for future planning scheme controls which will guide appropriate retail centre development. The Strategy will assist in discussions and assessment of applications (both planning scheme amendments and planning permits) for new retail and activity centre proposals, including those relating to the proposed new growth precincts in Bacchus Marsh and Ballan. 

The amendment will ensure new residential areas are well serviced by retail centres and support appropriate retail expansion in small towns and villages.  

C115 Retail Strategy Fact Sheet Map

 

This amendment seeks to implement the Strategy into the Moorabool Planning Scheme by proposing to:

  • Amend Clause 02.03-1 Strategic Directions to describe Bacchus Marsh as a Major Activity Centre and include updates to Ballan and Small Towns and Settlements sections.
  • Amend Clause 02.03-7 Economic Development to include minor changes to existing policy.
  • Amend Clause 11.01-1L-03 Ballan to remove Ballan Town Centre strategies.
  • Amend Clause 11.03-1L Activity Centres to include an updated Retail Centre Hierarchy and add Ballan Town Centre strategies.
  • Amend Clause 17.02-1L Business to add strategies for Bungaree and Gordon and expand on the existing bulky goods strategy.
  • Amend Clause 17.04-1L Tourism to include local strategies derived from the Visitor Economy Strategy 2024.
  • Amend Clause 18.01-3L Sustainable personal transport to provide support for a pedestrian-bicycle link between a future Ballan South neighbourhood activity centre and Inglis Street.
  • Amend the Schedule to Clause 34.01 Commercial 1 Zone to update 1.0 Maximum leasable floor area requirements based on the Retail Strategy assessments.  
  • Amend the Schedule to Clause 72.08 Background Documents to include new background documents Moorabool Shire Retail Strategy 2024 (Tim Nott with Hansen Partnership, 2024), Moorabool Shire Economic Development Strategy 2023-2027 (Urban Enterprise, 2024), and Moorabool Shire Visitor Economy Strategy 2023-2027 (Urban Enterprise, 2024).
  • Amend the Schedule to Clause 74.02 Further strategic work to remove the Retail Strategy update and add an urban design framework or structure plan for Ballan town centre.

Have your say

The Amendment was on public exhibition from 24 October to 30 November 2025 and 11 submissions were received. Council will consider the submissions and the next steps for the Amendment at a future Council meeting. All submitters will be notified once the Council meeting date is confirmed and provided with the opportunity to address Council.

Find out more

Council’s Strategic Planning team are available to answer questions about the amendment in person, via phone (03) 5366 7100 or email info@moorabool.vic.gov.au. In-person meetings can be arranged at Council's Darley or Ballan offices at any time during the public exhibition period.

Further details about the amendment including all amendment documents can be found on Council’s Have Your Say webpage Click Here

or

on the Department of Transport and Planning website DTP website.

Hard copies of all Amendment documents can be viewed at Council’s Darley or Ballan offices, and the Lerderderg Library 

 

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