Mayor's Message - Thursday 21 April

Mayors Message 

Ballarat has always been a city of diverse cultural backgrounds, founded on those from across the world seeking their fortune in gold through to the diverse community we enjoy today. 

But diversity is not just about what country you are from. Diversity is about recognising, accepting and respecting each and everyone’s individual backgrounds, cultures, age, gender, personal abilities, or how they identify. It is, in short, what creates not only the rich fabric of our society, but what also presents opportunity and progress across every area of our social, business, and recreational environment. 

The City of Ballarat is undertaking a massive consultation campaign to ensure everyone in our community has the chance to help shape an inclusive future for our city.  

Throughout April we will be asking for community input into the brand-new inclusion framework as part of the ‘Ballarat Inclusive’ campaign.  

The framework addresses our most important strategic documents regarding access and inclusion, and residents are encouraged to have their say on:  

• A new Inclusion Framework 

• A refreshed Reconciliation Action Plan, 

• A new Intercultural Plan, 

• An updated Disability Access and Inclusion Plan, 

• A brand new LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan, and 

• An updated Ageing Well Plan 

If you think of all the planning considerations a local government undertakes daily, from roads to buildings to recreation spaces, all have inclusive and accessibility considerations. Therefore, it is essential for community input to help shape and ensure future planning and developments do truly cater for everyone's needs.  

Ballarat is a growing city that embraces a modern and diverse community landscape. If not ourselves, we all have friends, family and colleagues with diverse needs, and the Ballarat Inclusive campaign is aimed squarely at giving everyone their chance for input into our city’s accessibility and inclusion planning. 

This month I encourage you to visit MySay.ballarat.vic.gov.au to have your say on the future of an Inclusive Ballarat.