About the Project
The project focuses on two key components: a review of local heritage policy, including incorporated documents, and the development of comprehensive Heritage Guidelines. These two parts will work in tandem to achieve positive heritage outcomes while the Heritage Program progresses.
Several key heritage policies within the planning scheme, which are essential for identifying and protecting heritage places and precincts within the City, will be reviewed as part of this project. These include:
- Clause 15.03-1L
- Schedule to Clause 43.01 Heritage Overlay
- Incorporate Documents
By updating these policies, the City of Ballarat will ensure that heritage sites are conserved and managed effectively, providing clear guidance for development and conservation.
The Heritage Guidelines will be clear and easy to read documents that show how changes to heritage places can be made in ways that respect their history and character.
These changes may include:
- Repairs
- Renovations
- New additions
- General updates
The guidelines will use simple language, diagrams and real life examples to help explain what good design looks like in a heritage context.
In conjunction with the updates to the Local Heritage Policy, the Heritage Guidelines will help building designers, property owners, developers and the community understand how best to conserve and manage heritage places now and into the future.
Project Goals
To better conserve Ballarat's unique heritage, now and into the future, this project will:
Why is this project necessary?
This project forms part of the City of Ballarat’s wider program of strategic heritage work, known as the ‘Heritage Program’, to address gaps in heritage protection.
As Ballarat grows, increasing development pressures can put our Heritage places at risk. This project will update and clarify how we conserve and manage heritage sites via planning policy.
The Local Heritage Policy review and new Heritage Guidelines are critical to ensuring that the City’s heritage places and precincts are adequately conserved and managed while allowing for growth which does not compromise that significance.
How will this help conserve Heritage?
This project will review and update the City of Ballarat’s local Heritage Policies to ensure they are robust and effective in managing and conserving heritage sites.
The project will develop new Heritage Guidelines to make it easier for property owners, architects and developers to understand and follow heritage policies. These guidelines will encourage designs that honour and conserve our heritage.
Involving stakeholders and the community ensures that local experiences, knowledge, and values are incorporated into the heritage conservation efforts.
This project updates and standardises local heritage policies and related documents to align with state planning legislation and guidelines, ensuring consistency. It also introduces clear Heritage Guidelines to support stakeholders in understanding and consistently applying heritage policies. Together, these measures provide a transparent and reliable framework for decision-making for property owners, the community, and council.
How to get involved
Are you a heritage property owner, real estate agent, developer, architect, draftsperson, building designer or a community member? We want to hear from you!
Your insights are vital role in shaping our Heritage Policies and Heritage Guidelines to ensure they strike the right balance between growth, conservation and management of our unique character and heritage.
Consultation closed Thursday 6 June 2025. Feedback we heard will be analysed and used to inform the draft Policy & Guidelines.
How will your feedback be used?
Your responses will help shape the draft Heritage Guidelines and updates to the Local Heritage Policy. Feedback will be reviewed by Council officers and may inform changes before the documents are finalised.
Community Engagement - What We Heard
What we wanted to know
What's next?
Building upon the in-depth engagement and consultation process, the heritage policy has been drafted alongside the development of new Heritage Guidelines to directly respond to community concerns about the lack of clarity, consistency and transparency in the current application process.
New local heritage policy and provisions will increase the transparency around permit decision-making by clearly articulating the strategies for conserving heritage places in the City of Ballarat and ensuring new development within the Heritage Overlay respects and enhances the heritage significance, setting and context of heritage places.
The development of new Heritage Guidelines is important in communicating the intent of the heritage policy in an easily accessible manner to a broad audience. Therefore, they are a key resource for helping the community to understand heritage planning and design in the City of Ballarat.
For the new local heritage policy to become part of the Ballarat Planning Scheme, it must go through a formal planning scheme amendment process. First, the City of Ballarat will need to request approval from Council to exhibit a Planning Scheme Amendment to include the new policy and application requirements into the Ballarat Planning Scheme. If approved, the City of Ballarat will then seek authorisation from the Miniter for Planning to exhibit the amendment.
If the Minister for Planning authorises the proposed amendment, we will:
- Share the news and notify the public of the exhibition dates for the amendment
- Invite you to make a submission supporting or opposing the proposed amendment. You can also ask for changes to the proposed amendment. Follow this page to keep updated and to be notified when you can make a submission.
