Proposed rezoning could transform Wendouree suburb

Ballarat City Council has before it an application to rezone 22 hectares of land in Wendouree from industrial use to residential, opening the way for up to 480 dwellings on the eastern side of Creswick Road.

The move arrives as Victoria faces a shortfall in new housing starts and Melbourne buyers continue to push into regional centres where median prices remain below the state average.

Local sites and growth corridors

The parcels sit between Creswick Road and the disused Ballarat North rail spur, within walking distance of Wendouree Village shopping centre and the northern edge of Lake Wendouree. The site also borders the western boundary of the Alfredton growth corridor, where recent subdivisions have already drawn families priced out of Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Council planning officers have flagged that any approved rezoning would need to align with the Ballarat Housing Strategy 2024-2034, which identifies Wendouree as a priority area for medium-density infill to ease pressure on heritage streets around Sturt Street.

Prices and timelines

Ballarat’s median house price sat at $510,000 in the June quarter, according to CoreLogic data released last week, compared with Melbourne’s $780,000. Local agents report Melbourne overflow buyers accounting for 38 percent of sales in Alfredton and Wendouree since January.

If the rezoning proceeds, the first stage of civil works could begin in early 2028, subject to a public exhibition period that opens on 22 July and closes on 19 August. Residents can view the full application documents at the council’s Bridge Mall offices or online through the planning portal.

Buyers interested in the potential new supply should monitor the council’s weekly planning agenda and consider engaging a local conveyancer familiar with the growth corridor overlays before the exhibition closes.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.