The Results are In. Ballarat Residents Support Outdoor Dining Options

City of Ballarat residents have overwhelmingly given their support to continued outdoor dining facilities in the CBD.

More than 70 percent of respondents to a Council mySay survey indicated that they were “happy” or “very happy” with the temporary dining hubs, installed to assist the hospitality sector extend their dining footprint during COVID.

The majority of respondents said they would be prepared to park further than 400 metres from their destination and willing to walk more than 4-5 minutes from their cars if there were more active streets with space for outdoor dining.

One clear theme that emerged was that future outdoor dining spaces in Ballarat should be aesthetically pleasing, with good design and protection from the weather.

The temporary outdoor dining hubs were funded through a $500,000 allocation from the Victorian Government’s Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package.

Council applied to use approximately $300,000 of this for small infrastructure in the footpaths – wind protection glass screens and umbrella sockets - because operators indicated that weather, rather than space was a greater impediment to outdoor dining in Ballarat.

A total of 71 businesses submitted an expression of interest with 42 hospitality providers this week allocated permanent glass wind protection screens and umbrella sockets, to be installed by the Spring. 

“We are certainly buoyed by the demand and support for continued better outdoor dining options incorporating smaller and more permanent infrastructure to cope with all seasons, City of Ballarat Councillor, Samantha McIntosh said.

“The Ballarat community and businesses have sent a strong message through our survey that they enjoyed and appreciated the temporary hubs.  Council is now better informed, to extend outdoor dining options to create a positive impact and unique dining destination experience for residents and visitors alike,” she said.

The draft Council budget 2021-2022 includes a $700,000 allocation for CBD Outdoor Dining and Streetscape Activation.  Of this, $200,000 is a carryover of the State government grant, to be used to install this infrastructure.  The remaining $500,000 budget will be used for streetscaping works to support outdoor dining, the details of which are yet to be scoped.