Ecological Sustainability & the Ballarat Structure Plan

All precincts in Ballarat (exemplified by the CBA) aim to maximise production of environmentally and socially critical resources.

To be a net exporter in as many of the following areas as possible:

• Renewable energy – diverse systems – wind, solar, geothermal, biomass
• Water – rainwater, grey water, recycled
• Food production – close to points of consumption
• Community services
• Knowledge – research, innovation, education and skills. E.g: climate adaptation solutions; low-carbon solutions; sustainable agriculture (food and bio-mass)
• Green businesses, green services, eco-innovation (agricultural best practice and re-mining) “green zone”

Living and Working Better – Consuming Less

To develop the highest quality of living and working conditions with the lowest per-capita consumption and production of waste, in as many of the following areas as possible:

• Greenhouse gas (e.g. target: reductions of greater than 60%)
• Electricity use (e.g through retrofitting – 40% reduction)
• Water: (e.g. target 80 litres/person/day of reticulated potable water)
• Transport /mobility (e.g. target greater than 30% shift from car to walking & cycling; 25% reduction in car trip distances; 40% increase in public transport use)
• Waste reduction (e.g, in all sectors,40%)

Avoiding cascading breakdown effects, enabling quick bounce-back from challenges – creating a social and physical fabric that is diverse, decentralised and locally inter-connected, so that any shocks (environmental or economic) will be limited in the spread of their effects.

To approach all planning and design decisions with the intent of increasing the diversity of communities, production systems (as in 1, above) and public facilities, particularly in relation to:

• Access to energy, water, food, transport,
• The provision of work and residential facilities
• Life in extreme weather conditions
• Community engagement

To achieve all of above through the development of innovative new solutions and approaches, building on the strong history of inventiveness and creativity in Ballarat (in agriculture and mining in particular).

Ballarat to be known nationally and internationally as supporting a culture of creative risk-taking, experimentation, and innovation in relation to climate resilience and sustainable solutions.