Runway project gets okay – City of Ballarat council meeting briefs

COUNCIL will match five million dollars in Federal Government funding in the hopes of carrying out the first stage of the Ballarat Airport Runway Upgrade Project.

A total $10 million could go towards lengthening the airport’s runway to between 1800 to 2000 metres to allow for increased commercial use of the site.

“It’s unlocking land potential and helping to bolster the aviation industry,” said mayor Cr Daniel Moloney.

The final motion agreed to by council noted the works were contingent on State and/or Federal Government funding a build of Liberator Drive, the vehicle access road from the east set to replace Airport Road.

Airport Road is currently blocking any extension of the runway and Cr Moloney said the municipality won’t be putting money of that project.

“There is no intention of any further capital spending at this point in time from this council,” he said.

CEO Evan King said talks with the relevant state authorities had been taking place.

“What we’re asking for is that Development Victoria bring forward their plans to build Liberator Drive,” he said.

Council also endorsed a commercially focused governance and management structure for the airport to grow aviation and allied service industries at the site.

A proposal for this structure is set to be put forward for council consideration in due course.

 

Health plan sent for work out

The Draft Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2031 will be available for public submissions after council voted on its intention to adopt the strategy at its August meeting.

Cr Moloney said the plan “describes how the City of Ballarat can best advocate for, and contribute to, our residents’ health and wellbeing.”

Cr Belinda Coates said it focused on a variety of issues, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable groups in the wider Ballarat community.

“The key themes that are coming out in the [plan] are tackling climate change and impact on health, prevention of all forms of violence, increasing healthy eating, increasing active living, improving mental wellbeing and reducing harm from smoking, gambling, alcohol and other drugs,” she said.

“It also has a particular focus on the most vulnerable groups in our community and also particular lenses such as gender, LGBT+, children, younger and older people, people with disabilities and financially disadvantaged people.”

Submissions on the plan must be received by 9am Monday, 19 July and more information is available at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ballarat-our-future1.

 

Events plan tweaked

Council adopted a revised version of the Ballarat Events Strategy 2018-2028.

Review was undertaken to account for changes in the tourism and events industries as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cr Ben Taylor said the earlier edition was “a bit out of date and it’s been out of date for a little while.”

“COVID’s hit which is pretty well thrown everything up in the air, but this is a really good foundation to work on as we come out.”

The revised strategy places greater emphasis on the economic outcomes of events and positive outcomes for the community.

 

Strategy revisited

Council adopted the Visitor Economy Strategy 2021-2024 with amendments to data on the visiting friends and relatives travellers market that was first brought up by Dr Elisa Zentveld in her presentation at the previous regular council meeting.

Following discussions with Dr Zentveld, council voted that a note will be added to data in the strategy to account for the size of the VFR travellers segment in Ballarat being 52.8 per cent, and their use of commercial accommodation.

The strategy sets out municipality and industry priorities to rebuild the visitor economy in the wake of COVID-19 with a focus on community advocacy.

Cr Mark Harris said the document “sets us up to shake ourselves and really look at the visitor economy generally.

“I think the way this is being put and the cognisance of the VFR market, particularly the relevance of this whole sector to the whole of economy and whole of community, is a real leap forward.”

The strategy is complementary to the Traveller Experience Plan adopted by council at its May meeting.

 

Partnerships granted

Two strategic partnerships were entered into after council voted in favour of requests from Sovereign Hill and the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute.

The Sovereign Hill partnership is valued at $160,000, to be split into two equal instalments paid over two years.

Cr Taylor said the plan aligns with objectives of recent tourism policies and builds on Sovereign Hill as an icon of the region.

“Sovereign Hill in itself represents Ballarat for so many people across not just Australia but across the world where they do fly the flag for us here,” he said.

The Ballarat Mechanics Institute partnership will see three equal instalments totalling $135,000 paid to the organisation over a three-year period to expand its current operations.

Cr Harris said, “It is… a fantastic asset that the city has got and we want it to be as self-sufficient as possible and very much within the time frame of these grants.”

 

What are they worth?

Mayor and councillor annual salaries were endorsed for the 2020-2024 term at the top level.

As mayor, Cr Maloney’s allowance is set at $100,434 per year while other councillors will receive $31,444 for their roles. Under current rules that’s that highest they can be paid.

A further 9.5 per cent is payable as part of superannuation entitlements.

 

Library contract booked in

Council voted to approve a contract with Procurement Australia for supply and delivery of library materials from 1 July to 30 June 2023.

The contract includes library collections, furniture, equipment and associated requirements.

City of Ballarat Libraries’ expenditure on such items is expected to total around $1 million over the next year.

 

Welcome to the network

Council will enter into a premium membership with the Welcoming Cities Network following a request prompted through the Intercultural Advisory Committee.

The global network helps local governments create inclusive cities through knowledge sharing, partnership development, celebrating success and accreditation through its members.

Membership fees will total $3000 to be absorbed in the current Intercultural Services budget.