July Council meeting wrap-up

The following officer reports were among the items considered at a Ballarat City Council meeting on 24 July, 2024.

Social and Affordable Housing action plan endorsed

The City of Ballarat’s first Social and Affordable Housing Action Plan has been adopted by Council at the July 2024 meeting.

The plan identifies the ways the City of Ballarat can contribute to social and affordable housing outcomes, with a focus on facilitation and advocacy to address community needs.

The final plan followed the creation of a draft Social and Affordable Housing Action Plan, with subsequent community engagement undertaken between 20 May and 16 June.

The consultation resulted in minor changes to the original draft with eight new actions added, taking the total to 35 actions.

The Social and Affordable Housing Action Plan can be read in full on the City of Ballarat website.

January 26 activities and events to continue unchanged

The City of Ballarat will continue with its current offering of events and activities on 26 January after Council endorsed a report into community engagement relating to future activities and events to be held on the day.

Following a resolution at the December 2023 Council meeting, a survey was hosted on the City of Ballarat’s MySay page to gauge community interest in activities and events on the public holiday.

The results showed that there is a variety of suggestions and opinions shared by the community and that the current mix of 26 January activities is providing options that appeal to different community members.

The current line-up of events and activities on 26 January that will continue includes: the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony and associated activities, Picnic in the Park and Citizenship Ceremonies.

The strategic direction of Ballarat’s Airport endorsed  

The Ballarat Airport Strategy and Master Plan 2024 was adopted by Council at the July 2024 meeting, providing a clear vision for the Ballarat Airport.  

The document outlines key strategic objectives for the airport:

• Pursue revenue opportunities
• Ensure safety and compliance
• Plan for infrastructure upgrades
• Identify development constraints
• Safeguard airport operations; and
• Consider emerging aviation technologies

The City of Ballarat heard during consultation that the community and industry were supportive of improving the airport’s capability to allow for increased services for the region, but cautious to ensure noise levels are not impacting nearby residents.  

Council also requested a future report considering the alignment of existing heritage overlays with future plans for the airport huts.

The full Strategy and Master Plan can be read on the City of Ballarat’s website.