Historical information

"A plan to turn the Gregory Street silos into apartments is no more.Developers Eleveno Pty Ltd have abandoned plans to transform the Lake Wendouree silos into a giant apartment complex, despite previously being given the green light from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.Director Richard Sykes yesterday confirmed the silos would be demolished."The plans are not proceeding. The plan now is to create residential houses," he said.The planning permit for an 18-lot subdivision was approved by Ballarat City Council on July 22, despite objections lodged against the application.Mr Sykes said it wasn't feasible to turn the silos into 27 units and there were many factors behind the decision."They're being demolished for various reasons, there were just better solutions," he said.Bold plans to transform the former Joe White Maltings silos into apartments were first submitted to Ballarat City Council in January 2007.However, developers took the proposal to VCAT in September 2008 after council failed to make a decision in the required 60-day timeframe.A hearing was held in early 2009 and the development was approved in March last year.Mr Sykes said it was found that the building would most likely be out of place in the region."We found the market didn't really want that sort of development," he said."They're probably more suited for inner-city development, rather than regional areas."Mr Sykes did not put a price on either the proposed development or the demolition, but said it would "cost a fair amount of money".He said once the demolition permit has been passed, works were expected to begin in November." (Ballarat Courier, 03 August 2010)

Physical description

Joe White Maltings Silos in Gregory Street Ballarat under demolition, to make way for a housing development. The silos were built on the banks of Lake Wendouree.