Works forge ahead at Ballarat West Employment Zone

Development Victoria is excited to announce that Winslow Constructors have secured the contract to lead the construction on the Liberator Drive extension that will become the main access point between Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ) and the Ballarat Airport for residents and businesses.

This is the first stage of the City of Ballarat’s planned three-stage upgrade project for the airport which will improve transport connections, stimulate economic growth and assist business expansion for Ballarat and the region.

The airport extension works are being jointly funded with $3.8 million from the Australian Government (via its Regional Airports Program) and the City of Ballarat.

As part of these works, the Ballarat Airport runway is to be expanded which will mean main road access to the airport will change from Airport Road to the newly extended Liberator Drive.

Once the Liberator Drive extension is completed in late 2024 and handed over, the closure of Airport Road can commence.

The extension of Liberator Drive is a crucial infrastructure project that will facilitate the main movement of traffic in and out of the airport.

Winslow Constructors is also undertaking the civil works for the Stage 2 precinct at BWEZ and continues to exceed the Local Jobs First Policy targets set by the Labor Government to create opportunities for local businesses and workers, including apprentices and trainees.

Reporting shows upwards of 104,000 hours achieved for workers (compared to a commitment of 57,000 hours) as well as 7360 hours reported on site for apprentices (compared to a commitment of 4,200 hours) with an additional 2144 hours reported in the hours created for new cadets.

For the Stage 2 civil works, Winslow Constructors committed to sourcing an average of 98 per cent of building materials from local suppliers. The latest reporting demonstrates that this targets has also been exceeded with 99.6% materials sourced locally.

It’s noted that with a number of months left before practical completion, these numbers will continue to grow.

Stage 2 is also the new home to manufacturer and supplier, John Valves, who has acquired two hectares of land within the precinct.

The company will bring 45 jobs into BWEZ and intends to be fully operational by early 2027.

John Valves will join McCallum Disability Services, Dahlsens Ballarat and other future tenants in Stage 2, as well as companies already located on site - including CHS Broadbent, Kane Transport, Luv-A-Duck, Westlab and Athlegen.

To continue the growth of Stage 2, Development Victoria has partnered with property specialists, Knight Frank, to present to market the sale of four lots in Stage 2 of BWEZ.

The lots are fully serviced to meet development requirements which are subject to BWEZ development guidelines and have a total area of 11.057ha.

To be eligible for this opportunity, businesses must address a set of criteria to ensure they are able to meet a certain standard of capability and capacity, policy outcomes, and proposed use.

Expressions of interest close Wednesday 11 September at 3pm. Find out more on the project page.

BWEZ 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 $171 million in investment.

“The extension of Liberator Drive will create vital connections to drive economic growth and job creation in Ballarat and surrounds,” said Group Head Precincts, Niall Cunningham.

The Victorian Government announced the initial stages of Ballarat West Employment Zone in 2015 as a $30 million joint initiative with the City of Ballarat, who provided $5 million, to support economic growth in the region.

BWEZ continues to be funded and delivered by Development Victoria, with Regional Development Victoria playing an investment attraction role.

Find out more on the BWEZ project page.