NEELIMA CHOAHAN         BALLARAT COURIER      MARCH 13, 2012

A PEAK heritage body has slammed Planning Minister Matthew Guy’s plans for high density high-rises in Ballarat as “inappropriate”.

The comments first appeared in a metropolitan newspaper on Saturday, when Mr Guy said the plan would revitalise the CBD.

The minister seems to have since backtracked from his earlier statement, with the City of Ballarat mayor Mark Harris saying he received a call from the minister assuring him that council would have control over its own destiny.

However, Ballarat Heritage Watch President Anne Beggs-Sunter said the fact that the minister had even said it was “worrying”.

“I am amazed at the idea of the … development being imagined for Ballarat,” Ms Beggs-Sunter said.

“And I am worried that the minister would try to override our local policy planning framework.

Mr Guy told the Melbourne newspaper he wanted to turn the CBDs of Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo into “terrific commercial and residential hubs”.

“I don’t think you will see 50-storey buildings in Ballarat … but … it will be higher density, it will probably be taller and it will give those cities a population boost … their downtown areas definitely need,” Mr Guy said.

“We want to see those cities change and grow, and grow sustainably, and this is the way to do it.”

Ms Beggs-Sunter said such a plan would worry a lot of people.

“I think the minister has not really discussed with the City of Ballarat what its urban strategies are for the future growth of city of Ballarat,” she said.

“The idea of skyscrapers is totally inappropriate in our city of Ballarat.

“I am certainly in favour of higher-density residential development where it is appropriate but I would think not more than four storeys.”

Cr Harris said the minister’s plan would not elicit any “enthusiasm from the Ballarat council”.

The minister could not be reached for comment last night.