Moorabool Shire Council’s
Draft Retail Strategy:
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Stronger retail in Bacchus Marsh
Road Network Improvements
Ballan retail expansion
Reduce escape expenditure
Moorabool Shire Council believes that retailing will be the catalyst for thriving activity centres that
meet the growing community’s retail, services and recreational needs, providing employment
opportunities for residents and engaging places for
people to interact.
We have examined the current shopping and
services, identified our local strengths and issues
and the forecast retail floor space requirements to
meet the needs of our population and retain
expenditure within our Shire.
Our draft Retail Strategy 2041 is the framework for a
thriving retail sector that supports our growing
population.
An additional 20,550 residents are expected to be living in Moorabool Shire by 2041. Many new
residents will settle in the Bacchus Marsh and Ballan areas.
Retail Floorspace Demand and Supply
Australian benchmarks estimate that
the appropriate amount of retail
floorspace needed per person is 2.2
m2. Based on this ratio and the
retention of 65% of resident
expenditure in the Shire. Moorabool
Shire has a shortfall of 14,300 m2 of
retail floorspace (11,440m2 in the
Bacchus Marsh area).
Retail Floorspace - Estimated
Shortfall
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0
Moorabool Shire will have a shortfall of
60,000m2 of retail floorspace by 2041
if no additional development occurs.
55,000
40,000
14,300
2015
2031
2041
Retail Floorspace - Estimated Shortfall (m2)
Current Retail Floorspace
Additional retail floorspace is required
in Moorabool Shire to reduce the expenditure flowing into neighbouring retail offerings of Ballarat
and Melton.
Did You Know?
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Moorabool’s residents are directing more than half non-food expenditure to retailers
in Melton and Ballarat.
Most food expenditure is being retained and directed to retailers within Moorabool.
Retail is the largest industry employer of residents living in Moorabool Shire.
Moorabool Shire currently has 31,200m2 of retail floor space and a shortfall of
14,300m2 which would support up to 350 additional local jobs.
Moorabool Shire Council: Draft Retail Strategy
The Retail Precincts and Growth
The study indicates the following:
1. Bacchus Marsh Town
Centre potential
Bacchus Marsh and surrounds contains 80% of Moorabool
Shire’s retail floorspace.
The following increases in retail floorspace based on
population growth:
Year Population Retail Floorspace Required
2021 25,000
50,000 m2 or 5-6 hectares
2031 30,000
80,000m2 or 8-10 hectares
2041 35,000
100,000 m2 or 10-12 hectares
Around 6,000 m2 of bulky goods/homemaker floorspace is
viable in Bacchus Marsh.
2. West Maddingley and
Darley potential
Current sufficient demand for Darley Plaza to be expanded
by 4,000 to 6,000m2 to include a larger supermarket and
additional specialty shops.
West Maddingley (Stonehill and Essence estates) will require
a base of 7,500 residents to attract a major supermarket and
services.
3. Ballan Town Centre
potential
Demand for floorspace in Ballan could be met by expanding
the supermarket and adding additional fresh food specialty
stores.
At 11,500 residents, a total of 13,000-14,000 m2 of retail
floorspace will be required. This could be provided in Ballan at
8,000m2 , Gordon at 3,000m2 and elsewhere at 1,000m2.
4. Small Town potential
As the population of our small towns increase, there will be
potential for additional retail facilities across the rural towns
of Moorabool Shire.
Bacchus Marsh Retail Hierarchy
A hierarchy of
activity centres has
been developed
that identifies the
preferred location
for retail uses. The
hierarchy maintains
the primacy of the
Bacchus Marsh
Town Centre and
ensures future retail
is situated at the
most appropriate
location.
Moorabool Shire Council: Draft Retail Strategy
The Recommendations to Support Retail Growth
1. Optimise the retail mix and encourage a concentration of facilities within the
Bacchus Marsh Town Centre.
2. Position the Bacchus Marsh Town Centre for growth, in keeping with its role as
the key activity centre for Moorabool, and improve movement in the town centre
including addressing pedestrian access and car parking. Traffic management is
being addressed through the Halletts Way extension and the Integrated Traffic
Management Plan.
3. Create a sense of place for the Bacchus Marsh Town Centre.
4. Provide a broader range of facilities and services in and around Bacchus Marsh
Town Centre.
5. Develop Moorabool as a retail tourism destination.
6. New/expansions of activity centres to serve growth areas.
7. Provide for homemaker and warehouse style operators in Bacchus Marsh
outside of the CBD.
8. Facilitate the improvement of the retail offer in the Ballan Town Centre.
9. Encourage the small towns to reach their potential.
Our Strategic Framework – Moorabool 2041
Moorabool Shire’s population will grow to
51,000 people by 2041. To successfully
manage this rapid population growth and
provide the economic opportunities,
services and infrastructure required,
Moorabool Shire is developing a
framework for growth called Moorabool
2041. Comprising the key strategies and
plans for growth, including the Industrial
Strategy, Moorabool 2041 will guide
Council’s planning and decision making
through to 2041.
Next Steps?
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Read the draft Strategy at www.haveyoursaymoorabool.com.au
Share your thoughts on the draft Strategy before 9 October 2015 via
www.haveyoursaymoorabool.com.au
Council will receive the community’s feedback at a future Council meeting when they
will consider adopting the four key strategies to inform Moorabool 2041.
Moorabool Shire Council: Draft Retail Strategy