Access to Markets

Ballarat is well connected to Victoria's extensive road network, enabling Ballarat businesses and industry ready access to Victorian, interstate and international markets.

Ballarat is a major regional city, located approximately 110km north-west of Melbourne along the Western Freeway. The Western Freeway is the principal road link between Melbourne and Adelaide, and is the first link of the transcontinental route between Melbourne and Perth.

Ballarat features uninterrupted access to Melbourne, with the road travel time approximately one hour. Travel time has been reduced with the opening of the $300 million Deer Park bypass.

The bypass links the Western Freeway to the Western Ring Road and Sunshine West, providing direct access to Melbourne, Melbourne's International Ports, and to the city's extensive freeway framework.

The Western Freeway is the premier regional freeway in Victoria, offering Ballarat distinct road transport advantages.

Ballarat is also centrally located at the nexus of several major state Highways, the Midland, Glenelg and Sunraysia Highways, which provide direct highway access to the regional centres of Geelong, Bendigo, Hamilton and Horsham.

Upgrading Ballarat's freight terminal facilities and the establishment of an integrated, state of the art freight handling centre in the municipality are considered by Council to be an important factor in sustainability and growth of the region.