Mayor's Message Thursday 26 November

Recently the City of Ballarat received $500,000 from the Victorian Government's Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package, to assist hospitality businesses adapt their businesses to outdoor dining.

Our officers have spoken with local businesses about the best way to use these funds to help create longer term outdoor dining across the city. Following this consultation, two packages have been developed for which we're inviting businesses to submit expressions of interest. 

The first package is for Outdoor Dining Hubs, where neighbouring hospitality venues can share outdoor dining space, while the second package is for sourcing and installing small infrastructure, such as wind barriers, to help individual businesses expand their outdoor dining space.

You can find more information and how to apply at the City of Ballarat website. 

Terrific news last week that the Victorian Government will provide $6.7 million to create the National Centre of Photography.

The national centre was one of the City of Ballarat's priority projects for tourism infrastructure funding.

The announcement is also recognition of Council's Creative City Strategy and our significant investment in the evolution of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

It will allow for year-round tourism activity in the heart of the CBD, for a visitor experience that has a proven track record of attracting crowds to Ballarat. 

Importantly, the national centre will provide economic benefits for some of Ballarat's hardest hit COVID sectors including hospitality and accommodation, as well as providing opportunities for our local photographic and creative practitioners. 

The development is the result of the City of Ballarat's extensive funding advocacy, with invaluable support from the Victorian Tourism Industry Council and Visit Victoria.