September Council meeting wrap-up

The following officer reports were among the items considered at a Ballarat City Council meeting on 11 September, 2024.

Footpath Construction Strategy  

Council adopted the City of Ballarat’s Footpath Construction Strategy, a key document which will prioritise and fund where new footpaths are built to improve safety, transport choices, health and wellbeing, as well as supporting local economic activity and productivity.

The strategy identifies where new footpaths are needed most, where sealing of existing unsealed footpaths should take place, and highlights missing links in the city’s footpath network.

It includes a current top 100 priority list of footpaths across the municipality.

The strategy features an equitable approach to the construction of footpaths, outlining a community-informed prioritisation framework for identifying which gaps in the footpath network should be built first.

Waste Management Strategy  

Council adopted the Waste as a Resource: Our Circular Economy Strategy 2024-2028, which is designed to transition the municipality to a circular economy.

The updated strategy follows on from the Resource Recovery and Waste Management Strategy 2018-2022 and provides an overarching strategy that includes the City of Ballarat’s waste service offerings, local waste and reduction and diversion targets, waste education, litter and illegal dumping.

The strategy is designed to provide a vision and framework to shape how the City of Ballarat can work with the community to reduce waste and support the municipality’s transition to a circular economy.

It sets circular economy targets that include reducing total kerbside waste generation for every person in Ballarat by 15 per cent between 2020 and 2030 and increasing City of Ballarat circular economy initiatives by 20 per cent each year to deliver a Circular Ballarat by 2050.

Annual Partnership and Grants Report 2023/24

Council received the overview report of the Annual Partnerships and Grants Report for financial year 2023/24.

A total 91 community groups and organisations received a combined $1,865,500.84 from the City of Ballarat’s program.

The funding paid during the 12 months were:  

• Strategic Partnerships Grants –$499,459.00 was paid to seven organisations.  
• City Partnerships Grants –$919,074.00 was paid to 13 organisations.
• Community Impact Grants – $293,467.84 was paid to 58 community groups and organisations.  
• Tourism Events Grants –$153,500.00 was paid to 13 event organisers.

For more information about the City of Ballarat’s annual grant programs or to apply for the current round of grants, visit the ‘Grants’ page on the website.  

Sebastopol Community Hub tender award  

The new Sebastopol Community Hub is a step closer after the awarding of the construction tender to A W Nicholson Pty Ltd.

The community and early years hub to be located at 254-256 Vickers Street Sebastopol will provide an integrated local and accessible community facility to cater for the growing population of Sebastopol and Ballarat south-west.  

The facility will provide opportunities for social connectivity and promotion of lifelong learning and physical activity, in a fit for purpose facility for local groups such as Sebastopol Senior Citizens, Girl Guides, Ballarat Community Health, BRI and other future users of the facility.  

The tender includes the construction of a main community hall, three meeting rooms, three 22-place kindergarten rooms, two Maternal and Child Health consulting rooms, public amenities, onsite car parking, and associated infrastructure.

Funding for this $14 million project is a strong example of the three tiers of government working in partnership to deliver for the community – City of Ballarat ($5 million), State Government ($4.5 million) and Federal Government ($4.5 million).

Ballarat Regional Landfill capping tender award  

The provision of Stage 2 Part B Ballarat Regional Landfill Construction Works – Landfill Capping/Rehabilitation Works was awarded to Goldsmith Civil and Environmental Pty Ltd.

Stage 2 Part B contract works are scheduled to commence in October 2024, followed by the commencement of construction in January 2025.

The scope of Stage 2 works includes:

• Re-grading of existing soil cover over waste to an evenly graded free draining surface.
• Construction of capping layers over re-graded surface.
• Tie in of capping layers to existing Stage 1 evapotranspiration cap.  
• Tie in of geosynthetics to existing liners.  
• Re-grading and reinstatement of the existing drains along the east and west side of the cap.

Buninyong Cemetery Road discontinuance

Council noted the submissions received during community consultation regarding the Buninyong General Cemetery Road discontinuance and moved in accordance with a previous resolution to continue the process of discontinuance of the portion of government road adjacent to the Buninyong General Cemetery.

The total submissions received during the four week consultation period (31 May to 28 June 2024) were six in support of the proposal and one submission against the proposal.