Mayor's Message - Friday 11 March

In 2022, there will be both a federal and state election, which offer critical opportunities for Ballarat to attract key project funding to drive future economic growth and support the city’s pandemic recovery.  

City of Ballarat CEO Evan King and I have had numerous in person or online meetings with members of parliament and with ministers, written letters and briefings, and have made the case for several of our key projects through the media.  

They include regionally transformational projects like Ballarat Link Road and expansion of our Major Events Precinct, projects of citywide significance, including a Regional Animal Facility, and projects of local significance such as a Buninyong Skate Park, Learmonth Oval upgrades and Redan wetlands revitalisation works. 

We are also working with other major Ballarat organisations to present a list of citywide funding priorities ahead of both elections.  

Significant commitments have already been made by the Federal Labor Opposition for a new Sebastopol Community Centre ($4.5 million) and the State Liberal Opposition for the Miners Rest Community and Sporting Hub ($7 million) – which shows Council’s efforts are already gaining traction.  

The Federal Election is only a matter of weeks away, and the State Election will be held in late November, so we hope to see more announcements like those in the lead-up. 

The funding we’re seeking from other levels of government through our advocacy will help deliver important projects over and above business as usual – projects needed to cater for a growing population which we can’t fund and deliver on our own. 

While not every project will get funded at these elections, the City of Ballarat will always make the case to all sides of politics for these important projects, regardless of where we’re up to in the election cycle.  

To learn more, visit ballarat.vic.gov.au/advocacy