Intercultural Garden a step closer to reality

A prominent new garden that will celebrate Ballarat's diverse cultural backgrounds has taken a major step towards completion.

The Ballarat Intercultural Garden will this year be constructed at the intersection of Sturt and Pleasant streets, designed to provide a public space that can be used by all members of the community and cultural groups to celebrate events.

Tender documents have now been released calling for construction of the project, with works expected to start mid-2024.

The garden will beautify and improve the existing space at the north-western corner at the intersection of Sturt and Pleasant streets, near the City Oval football ground and City Oval Bowling Club.

Celebrating Ballarat’s cultural diversity, the garden will also include a community flagpole, picnic shelter, park furniture, an arts display plinth, and electrical and water connections.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the Intercultural Garden had been a project that had been on the radar for some time.

The initiative to create the Intercultural Garden was part of the City of Ballarat Intercultural Plan 2002-2026.

“We know from working closely and engaging with our Intercultural Advisory Committee that this project is really important to Ballarat,” Cr Hudson said.

“It will be brilliant to have a dedicated open space where our ever-growing multicultural community can feel celebrated and hold cultural events, picnics and catch ups with friends and family.

“The project will also improve the aesthetics of a prominent area of our city and will be a place the entire community can be proud of.

“As we celebrate our cultural diversity during Harmony Fest, what better time to take such a major step forward towards completing the project?"

The design of the garden followed community consultation in 2023 in which valuable feedback was gathered to help shape the project’s direction.

Tender applications close on April 16, with the successful bidder expected to be finalised in May 2024.