The Greenhill Lake Development Plan focuses on a triangular site, with residential lots to be located between Dodd Drive, Greenhill Lake Drive, and Mount Langi Avenue, just off the western side of Greenhill Lake.

At the council meeting, Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Dr Tim Harrison said the development was vital to its prosperity.

"We need more housing in Ararat. This is an important part of moving forward," he said.

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"It's a significant project that's been on the books for 16 years...it's probably 15 years overdue.

"It's actually really nice to be in a position where we can move into the space and reap the rewards for the developers and also for the community."

Cr Gwenda Allgood voiced her support for the development and stated she was surprised the plan had taken so long to receive approval.

"I can't believe it's been 16 years," she said.

"These people have had this dream, and it really disappoints me that it's taken that long.

"So congratulations to them for basically hanging in there and spending money. Because that's what it's cost them: a lot of money, and I don't think it's really fair on them, and it wasn't fair some of the ways our systems worked, or not worked."

Cr Peter Beales moved the motion to approve the plan.

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He stated he was pleased the development was progressing and said he understood why the process had taken so long.

"This is a high standard application. We've invested a lot of time and money into this project, it's been on the books for a long time," he said.

"I think it's slightly unfair to blame the length of time on council.

"I can understand where they were coming from. There was not the perceived urgent demand that there have been the past few years, and it is difficult to commit council money to the development of something that they don't actually own."

Councillors unanimously voted to approve the plan.

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This was in line with council officers' recommendation, whose report on the development plan noted it was consistent with the goals of the council's Ararat Sustainable Growth Future Report (2014).

This report noted the more extensive East Ararat Development could eventually include up to 500 dwellings.

The plan covers a mixture of a General Residential Zone on the western side and a Low-Density Residential Zone on the eastern side.

The plan was submitted to the council by Beveridge Williams on behalf of Greenhill Lakes Estate.

It claims the area is ideal for residential development.

"The area forms an attractive eastern entrance to Ararat that provides an important buffer between areas of urban residential land to the west, Green Hill Lake, the Aradale heritage site and the agricultural area to the north."

The plan also describes the development as having numerous benefits to the community, such as the stormwater runoff potentially being directed South of Dodds road to creating a rejuvenated wetland area.

The first properties to be developed will be those along the western section of Dodds Drive.

The plan was for a public exhibition during December 2020 and January 2021.

No submissions regarding the plan were received.

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