Memorial designs finalised – City of Ballarat council meeting briefs

TEARS were shed during last week’s City of Ballarat council meeting with the final designs for the Continuous Voices memorial project approved by councillors.

Developed over five years following the Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, the space will be created to give survivors, their familily members, carers, friends and the broader community a place to reflect.

The agenda item saw six presentations including from LOUD Fence founder Maureen Hatcher, who said the Victoria Park-based space will be healing for many.

“This space will be utilised in many ways,” she said.

“It will be a place to go to quietly reflect and to seek clarity but also a place for large events and get-togethers. The Continuous Voices memorial will give back to this broken yet healing tribe.”

Ms Hatcher added a desire to see permanent metal ribbons, in reference to LOUD Fence’s iconic advocacy campaign, placed at the installation.

Cr Belinda Coates moved the motion, referring to the final design as a great marriage between municipal, community, and creative efforts, and a potential world-first installation.

With $1 million split between the State Government and the municipality to fund the initiative, AMASS Architects’ Connected Voices was chosen as the final design following extensive consultation.

Cr Peter Eddy said the lack of Federal funding towards the project would be an “indictment” following its completion, expected by mid-2026.

 

Rec reserve plans out for feedback

Councillors signed off on both the draft Prince of Wales Park and the draft Recreation Infrastructure 2024-2039 plans to go out for public exhibition.

The former outlines the future development of the respective reserve while the latter is aimed at steering the growth of infrastructure for the region.

With the Prince of Wales Park masterplan to include the demolition of the Alfredton Baseball Club’s home of more than 30 years, the item saw a packed gallery and two submissions from members.

President Greg Quayle called to stop the demolition plans and invited councillors to view the facilities, which the club has self-sustained and developed over the years, putting in hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“We would like to see some really significant changes done with that masterplan,” he said. “But we certainly don’t want to hold it up.”

Mr Quayle said the club is open to any overhauls or upgrades to their clubrooms as part of the plan.

The municipality’s director of community wellbeing Matthew Wilson confirmed the club’s facilities would not be considered for the Prince of Wales Park masterplan until at least 2035.

He also said demolishment of the clubrooms is not required to achieve the other aspects of the masterplan, and agreed to conduct immediate in-depth consultation with the club.

 

Biodiversity strategy adopted

The municipality’s first Ballarat Biodiversity Strategy, Healing Country Together, has been endorsed by council with the aim of providing a guideline for a greener region.

Councillors voted unanimously to adopt the strategy, which outlines 13 goals supported by 31 actions in undertaking more sustainable and environmentally diverse practices.

Friends of Canadian Corridor secretary Jeff Rootes commended the strategy.

“It’s a great step forward,” he said. “Up until now, biodiversity protection and support has been spread across a number of plans, regulations, and documents.

“It hasn’t been comprehensively brought together. This document brings it together.”

Actions in the strategy include further support and consultation with First Nations and environmental groups, as well as the planting of more trees and educational awareness initiatives.

 

Fair access adopted

Councillors passed the State Government-mandated Fair Access policy aimed at fostering gender equality across sporting facilities.

Highlighting the 2018 Active Women and Girls’ Strategy, Cr Coates said the municipality is already “ahead of the curve” when it comes to inclusion in sport.

“[This policy] gives us a chance to review that work, to… just really strengthen what we’re doing,” she said.

Cr Daniel Moloney said more effort is needed in extending inclusion in sports to members of the LGBTIA+ community.

 

Tourism plans passed

Both the Tourism Midwest Victoria Sustainable Destination Management, and Ballarat Local Area Action plans were adopted by councillors.

Both documents are aimed at steering the region’s tourism development until 2033 and are an initiative of Tourism Midwest Victoria.

Cr Ben Taylor had “reservations” about the plans and said an approach specific to Ballarat as a visitor destination is needed.

“What’s important to us is what is our Ballarat Local Area Action Plan?” he said.

“We do have multiple layers underneath surrounding what we have as a city. We’re committing to so many different things when it comes to Ballarat, its market, its image, and what we represent.

“What we really want to do is start here, stay here, spend here, go out, but then come back here. It is a real challenge at the moment.”

 

Removing roads

Plans are underway to discontinue portions of Airport Road at Ballarat Airport, and Gladstone Street at Golden Point.

The former is being done as part of the final development needed for runway extensions to Ballarat Airport, while the latter was requested by members of the Vintage and Classic Car Club to allow for additional facilities.