BNIF report received at state parliament

A REPORT calling for the funding of six major projects in the region and produced by a group of leading Ballarat organisations has been delivered to state parliament.

The Ballarat. Now and Into the Future (BNIF) document was received by Western Victoria upper house MP and Minister for Regional Development, Jaala Pulford, on the steps of state parliament last week.

“We look forward to continuing a strong relationship with these eight organisations,” Ms Pulford said. “It’s a great partnership for the Ballarat community to have.”

Projects BNIF are seeking backing for include a train station at Warrenheip, funding for stage two of the Ballarat Link Road, upgrades for Sovereign Hill and Her Majesty’s Theatre and innovation centers looking at health and aviation emergency services.

While Ms Pulford’s was unwilling to make a definitive commitment to each item outlined in the BNIF document at this time, she did commit to addressing it at a later date and restated her government’s commitment to the region.

“We welcome the Ballarat. Now and Into the Future report and look forward to having more to say about our commitments to Ballarat soon,” she said.

“Our Government has been proud to back transformational projects in our City – whether it be by bringing hundreds of public service jobs to Ballarat, or transforming Ballarat Station in the heart of the city into a vibrant, accessible and connected commercial community hub or record funding for Ballarat Hospital and health services.”

Western Victoria Upper House MP, Joshua Morris, who received copies of the report on behalf of the opposition said he and other members of his party were willing to go into bat for the projects outline if the BNIF plan.

“I, alongside my fellow Liberal candidates Andrew Kilmartin and Amy Johnson, will continue to lobby for the priorities outlined in the Ballarat Now and In the Future to ensure our community receives its fair share in lead up to November’s State election,” he said.

While both sides of politics digest the contents of the report, City of Ballarat Mayor Councilor Samantha McIntosh said she and other members of BNIF would continue to lobby for the issues outlined in the report.

“A number of these projects have grant applications or expressions of interest already submitted to government departments,” she said.

“The City of Ballarat will continue to meet with key ministers and senior state government bureaucrats to advance theseprojects.”

While Cr McIntosh is hopeful of getting funding commitments before the election in November, if that doesn’t happen she said she would keep pushing for resolutions after the vote.

“Should no pre-election commitments be forthcoming, which would be disappointing for the stakeholders and Ballarat, we would work with whomever forms government in November to progress funding,” she said.

“Ballarat needs these projects to meet the needs of our growing city, our community and the region we service.”

BNIF is made up of eight member organisations, they include the City of Ballarat, Committee for Ballarat, Commerce Ballarat, Ballarat Health Services, Sovereign Hill, Visit Ballarat and Australian Catholic University and Federation University.