Smaller projects rewarding for Rinaldi

A SOUTH ward councillor since 2015, Cr Jim Rinaldi hopes to sit another term with the City of Ballarat.

For him, the next four years will need “strong and decisive leadership.”

Having run his own business for over 27 years, Cr Rinaldi said he has experience and a “plain common sense” that will be valuable in decision making and representing residents, when it comes to rebooting the economy, and community, post COVID-19.

“I want to continue with that we’ve achieved, follow and deliver the council plan,” he said.

“I enjoy seeing projects coming together and being delivered, and it doesn’t matter which ward someone lives in, if I can help them, I will.

“I give a voice to those who think they may not have one.”

Cr Rinaldi said high-profile developments, like Mars Stadium or the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre might often get the biggest spotlight, but it’s smaller community initiatives that give him the most joy.

As the father of four daughters, an accessibility improvement at Buninyong’s De Soza Park, for example, has been one of Cr Rinaldi’s passion projects.

“A mother approached me who had three children; one of them living with a disability. All she wanted was for the playground to be accessible for her daughters, so the sisters could play together,” he said.

“In doing that, we got the all-abilities Eagle Swing. It was something simple, but I had so much empathy for that family.

“When you go out there now, there are lots of children that play there. It’s been really rewarding.”

Cr Rinaldi is keen to persevere with beautification and tree-planting in Sebastopol, Delacombe and Buninyong’s streets, and ensuring sporting facilities continue to be inclusive for female and male athletes city-wide.

“There’s still work to be done, but where some areas where neglected, now they’re not,” he said.

“The refurbishment of the Sebastopol Library has been a great success, so has the reopening of the BMX track and upgrades to the ovals.”

Improving overall community safety and the bus system is key for Cr Rinaldi moving forward, as is the rejuvenation of Bakery Hill.

“That’s an interesting concept, and one of the ways to activate it will be to have more upstairs and inner-CBD living. It won’t just be done with roadworks, although it may help.”

An independent, “entirely self-funded” candidate, Cr Rinaldi said he’s never been a member of any party.

“There is no place for politics in local government.”

Away from Town Hall, Cr Rinaldi has his own personal athletic project that he works on at 6am, four days a week.

He’s been training to complete his 13th consecutive Melbourne Marathon in October. Due to COVID-19, he’ll run the equivalent distance throughout Ballarat.

“I do a lot of running along the Wallaby Track in Brown Hill, and all over town. Through Woowookarung Regional Park, along the Yarrowee River Trail to Sebastopol, and through Buninyong.

“I give full credit to our council workers that look after these tracks. Even with rain, they’re all magnificent, and there’s more to come with the Buninyong Railway Line project near Mount Clear College,” he said.

“You really appreciate what we have in Ballarat when you are out jogging or running around, getting to see the things you miss when you’re driving.”