![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/01\/MichaelPoultonFelici_57741.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
“So we need to be ensuring that we are carving a really sound and strategic pathway from the state election that leads into the federal election.”<\/p>\n
Ms Mariani said another element of forward planning was the committee’s Vision 2050 project.<\/p>\n
“This all has to be connected in a linear way \u2013 our short-term asks building our long-term future,” she said.<\/p>\n
Ms Mariani said the committee was still finalising its pre-election positions on various issues, but stressed the organisation would continue to advocate for whatever is needed to prepare for expected population growth up to 2050.<\/p>\n
“We’re looking at a population in excess of 200 to 250,000 by the time we get out to 2050, so that means we’ve got major priorities around housing, around transport and infrastructure \u2013 and that is road, rail and air,” she said.<\/p>\n
“And job creation \u2013 we need to ensure that we are creating jobs in our local region. You can’t expect people to move here and commute into the city (Melbourne) to work.<\/p>\n
“We need to be creating jobs in our region to keep people living, working and playing in the region.”<\/p>\n
Ms Mariani said the committee was working with the City of Ballarat on its circular economy by 2050 project and was also advocating for the Sovereign Hill Gold Vault project.<\/p>\n
“That is probably the jewel in the crown, if you will, of a major master planning process that Sovereign Hill has been going through over the last 10 years,” she said.<\/p>\n
“This will be a major game changer for the region and will absolutely ensconce Ballarat and Sovereign Hill as the reason to travel [here].”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
NEW Committee for Ballarat chair Felicia Mariani is settling into her role with a laser focus on how the city and its region can benefit from the range of opportunities open to it. “The opportunities for this region are enormous,” Ms Mariani said. “I think there are some key opportunities that are not necessarily being […]<\/p>\n