Mayor's Message - Thursday 28 April
![Ballarat North to South Aerial (Creswick Road) and Mars Stadium](/sites/default/files/2022-04/Ballarat%20North%20to%20South%20Aerial%20%28Creswick%20Road%29%20and%20Mars%20Stadium.jpg)
Mayors Message
In 2022, Ballarat has already delivered a feast of arts and sporting entertainment. It has also received a generational opportunity through the announcement of Ballarat as the host venue for the 2026 Commonwealth Games athletics, boxing, T20 cricket and para-athletics.
Now it is set to deliver one of the most industrious and collaborative economic initiatives the city has seen.
Last Thursday Ballarat launched ‘Ballarat. Now and Into the Future 2022’, a new campaign seeking state and federal funding support for six transformational projects for Ballarat and the region exactly one month out from the 2022 Federal Election.
The co-operative campaign between nine of Ballarat’s key organisations representing the health, education, tourism, commercial, local government and advocacy sectors will each bring city-wide and regional benefits with an estimated combined $372 million injection into the Ballarat economy, generating over 1700 jobs and $315.6 million in economic activity during construction.
The six projects include:
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Community Mental Health Facility – a purpose-built facility to meet the rapidly growing demand for community-based mental health services in Ballarat and the Grampians Region.
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Ballarat Major Events Precinct Expansion – delivering a world-class major events precinct for sport and entertainment.
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Sovereign Master Plan Phase 1b – the next exciting stage of development at Sovereign Hill boosting visitation to Ballarat and the west.
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Ballarat Link Road Next Stages – a 12 km arterial to connect our rapidly building growth area and improve freight movement through Ballarat to four regional highways and key ports.
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Ballarat University Town – bringing thousands of Federation University students to the Ballarat CBD each day by establishing state of the art teaching facilities at SMB Campus.
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Circular Economy Precinct anchored by a Materials Recovery Facility – a new precinct at the Ballarat West Employment Zone with a new facility to sort mixed recyclables from across our region so they can be repurposed by circular businesses into useful new products.
With two up-coming elections this is a powerful collaborative bid, and I would encourage everyone to find out more by visiting ballaratnow.com.
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