Mayor's Message - Friday 11 November

It is with great privilege and honour that on Monday 7 November 2022 I was appointed Mayor of the City of Ballarat.   

I would like to acknowledge the outstanding example set by our previous Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney. Daniel led Council with passion, motivation, and a great sense of balance. I intend to continue to build this momentum, I value community consultation and collaboration and the need to maintain our transparency as a Council and as the City of Ballarat, in all that we do.  

I enter my term as Mayor at a particularly exciting and progressive time. Ballarat has many superb initiatives already underway, from the Bridge Mall redevelopment to BWEZ’s Intermodal Freight Hub, the regional Goldfields World Heritage bid and of course the Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games to name just a few.   

However, I am also very aware that as a Council we need to keep our eyes firmly on the basics and doing the basics well. From roads to potholes, from community wellbeing to waste, from early learning to libraries, we need to continually review and look to improve all our essential community services.  

As a Council we will always have challenges that require tough decisions, careful consideration and evaluation and I am confident with my 20 years as a councillor with the City of Ballarat, I will bring a balanced and collaborative approach to my role as Mayor.   

Over the past two years we have invested in qualified strategic planning and have established a clear path forward and I intend to ensure those plans are enabled and carried out to their full potential.   

Ballarat belongs to us all and I do not take the responsibility I now hold lightly as I am committed across our businesses, our sport and arts cultures, our infrastructure, and our environment to see Council continue the momentum as we all work together in building a more liveable, enjoyable, and sustainable city for our community.  

Mayor  

Cr Des Hudson