Thursday, 29 May 2025
MILESTONES ACHIEVED AT BALLARAT WEST EMPLOYMENT ZONE
Businesses looking to set up in Ballarat now have even more opportunities to do so, with 155 hectares of industrial land now unlocked at the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ), backed by the Victorian Government.
Member for Eureka Michaela Settle today represented Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes and Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts Harriet Shing at BWEZ to officially mark the completion of Stage 2 civil works and the extension of Liberator Drive.
BWEZ Stage 2 has delivered 55 additional hectares of industrial land adjacent to Ballarat Airport, with sewer, drainage, gas, water, electrical and NBN connections now installed, along with internal roadworks.
Completion of the interim Liberator Drive extension means that businesses will have easier access to the airport and the regional supply chain, boosting growth and providing more job opportunities for local workers.
Both packages of work were delivered by Winslow Constructors following individual competitive tendering processes.
The completed works mean companies like Field Air and John Valves can now establish operations at BWEZ and join future tenants and companies already on site – including CHS Broadbent, Kane Transport, Luv-A-Duck, Westlab and Athlegen.
Land sales-to-date and those underway at Stage 2 are predicted to bring the total number of ongoing jobs created at BWEZ to 1,200 and will generate up to $171 million in investment.
The Victorian Government announced the initiation of BWEZ in 2015 as a $30 million joint initiative with the City of Ballarat, which invested $5 million, to support economic growth for the city over two decades.
Since then, the Government has invested more than $45 million to further develop the land for businesses. This is in addition to $12 million invested to establish the BWEZ Acacia residential land development, which sold all 92 lots in record time.
The Victorian and Australian Governments have also committed funding to deliver the precinct’s Ballarat Freight Hub.
BWEZ is on track to become the engine room for jobs and economic growth in Ballarat by developing more than 400 hectares of Crown land in stages over two decades.
BWEZ continues to be funded and delivered by Development Victoria, with Regional Development Victoria, Ballarat City Council and Invest Victoria attracting investors to the precinct.
For more information, go to rdv.vic.gov.au.
Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaclyn Symes
“BWEZ is an ambitious project that is coming to fruition through the delivery of these staged civil works. It’s well on its way to becoming the economic engine for Ballarat and the Central Highlands that was envisioned in 2015, and I’m excited to see tenant businesses continue to set up shop in the precinct.
Quote attributable to Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts Harriet Shing
"We’re proud to be supporting Ballarat’s economic growth in the BWEZ precinct by creating jobs on prime industrial land with access to road, rail and the nearby Ballarat Airport, as well as providing housing opportunities close to jobs, education and services.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eureka Michaela Settle
“The completion of Stage 2 civil works and the extension of Liberator Drive are important milestones in realising our long-term plans for BWEZ, and I look forward to welcoming even more local businesses and jobs established here.”
Quote attributable to Cr Tracy Hargreaves, Mayor of City of Ballarat
“The City of Ballarat is proud to partner with the Victorian Government on the delivery of the Ballarat West Employment Zone. It is exciting to see a further 55 additional hectares of industrial land adjacent to the Ballarat Airport unlocked, which will support economic growth and investment in our city and region.”
