CITY of Ballarat councillors unanimously endorsed a submission to the Department of Transport and Planning’s Ballarat Bus Network Review at last week’s ordinary meeting.<\/p>\n
The review was announced in May 2025 and community engagement closed on 7 December.<\/p>\n
The municipality’s submission includes calls for better route design with cross town links, improved frequency and reliability, integration with rail and sustainable transport options, accessibility improvements, transition to zero-emission buses, safety upgrades and live timetable technology.<\/p>\n
An amendment to the motion by Cr Tess Morgan included clarification that when the submission refers to a more efficient bus system, this means service efficiency rather than spending less money.<\/p>\n
“We agree that we need a more efficient bus system\u2026 but what efficient means can be different for different people,” she said.<\/p>\n
“The City of Ballarat needs a more efficient bus system and that is not one where less money is spent on buses.<\/p>\n
“That definition of efficiency for us is one where more money not less is spent on our buses.”<\/p>\n
Micromobility program to continue<\/strong><\/p>\n The municipality will continue to offer shared e\u2013scooters and e\u2013bikes following the conclusion of a three-year trial.<\/p>\n A process will begin to select a single operator to run the service for three years and there will be improvements introduced including marked parking bays and stronger compliance measures.<\/p>\n An amendment to the motion by Cr Morgan was carried, including investigating the expansion of the service to areas of high need, such as suburbs where more then eight per cent of residents do not own a car.<\/p>\n “I know that there are some concerns in the community around feeling unsafe perhaps when they see a scooter on the road but a lot of the evidence that we saw leading up to this night in briefings suggested that the amount of actual accidents in relation to the scooters is a lot lower than it’s actually perceived,” Cr Morgan said.<\/p>\n “By and large what we see in the data is that so many people use the scooters and so many people need the scooters.”<\/p>\n Art policy updated<\/strong><\/p>\n The updated Public Art Policy was adopted with changes including a simplified structure and language, removal of operational content, streamlined definitions, and clarified governance roles.<\/p>\n Crs Damon Saunders and Ted Lapkin voted against the motion, and Cr Saunders said he did not believe municipal staff should choose public art pieces as they are not elected representatives.<\/p>\n “The bit that I’m against is for temporary art to be chosen by council staff,” he said.<\/p>\n “I think that the councillors should have some input into it and the main reason for that is we are answerable to our wards.”<\/p>\n Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves said she believes City of Ballarat staff are best positioned to choose the art pieces.<\/p>\n “I believe that council staff are very much the best placed people to be judging what our public art needs are, how to look after them, how to be responsive to the needs of our diverse community, and not to just be appealing to particular people’s tastes,” she said.<\/p>\n Communications policy updated<\/strong><\/p>\n The reviewed Councillor Communication and Information Policy has been adopted.<\/p>\n Updates to the policy include adding the term ‘personal media commentary’ and including a definition, as well as splitting section 3.4 into principles that councillors should consider when making personal media commentary and requirements which ensure councillors comply with legal obligations.<\/p>\n The policy states that when councillors make personal media commentary, it must be fair and not misrepresent or mislead the public, and when the commentary is likely to cause a reaction in the community, notice must be provided as soon as practical to the mayor and CEO prior to its release.<\/p>\n The review comes after Cr Lapkin moved a notice of motion at the August 2025 meeting to consider amendments to section 3.4 of the policy.<\/p>\n Yangzhou report noted<\/strong><\/p>\n A report of the delegation to Yangzhou, China, in September 2025 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of a friendship city partnership and signing of a new agreement was received.<\/p>\n The delegation included mayor Cr Hargreaves, deputy-mayor Cr Ben Taylor, and CEO Evan King which cost $14,184.64.<\/p>\n Four community members joined the delegation, self-funding their trip.<\/p>\n Highlights included the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Ballarat Grammar and Yangzhou Shuren High School to have a student exchange program, the Art Gallery of Ballarat’s exhibition in Yangzhou, and discussions about UNESCO Creative Cities initiatives.<\/p>\n