RESIDENTS with knowledge of places that help tell Ballarat’s story are being invited to help shape the city’s future, with a fresh round of community consultation now open as part of the City of Ballarat Heritage Gaps Study.<\/p>\n
Following a year-long consultation that attracted more than 150 community nominations, the council has moved into the next stage of the study, calling on locals to share information about sites across the municipality that may warrant heritage protection.<\/p>\n
Community feedback is now open via the council’s MySay page, with submissions closing on 1 April.<\/p>\n
A council spokesperson said the input would help ensure the study reflects local priorities and will also inform fieldwork planned for later in the year.<\/p>\n
Encouraging residents to take part, Ballarat mayor Tracey Hargreaves said community involvement was essential to identifying places of local significance.<\/p>\n
“Ballarat’s heritage is one of our greatest assets and we want to make sure it is protected and celebrated for future generations,” she said.<\/p>\n
“The Heritage Gaps Study is about finding those places that may have been overlooked and ensuring they are recognised.<\/p>\n
“Every contribution from the community helps us build a more complete picture of our history.”<\/p>\n
Each nomination will be assessed as part of the study, which is scheduled for completion by the end of the year. The outcome will be an indicative list of places requiring further investigation to determine whether they meet the threshold for local heritage significance.<\/p>\n
“We know there are many places throughout the municipality that hold special meaning for our community,” Cr Hargreaves said.<\/p>\n
“By sharing your local knowledge, you can help us identify and conserve these heritage assets now and into the future.”<\/p>\n
The Heritage Gaps Study forms part of council’s broader Heritage Gaps Review Program, which aims to safeguard Ballarat’s heritage, with the city’s population forecast to grow by about 55,000 people by 2041, increasing development pressure on historic places.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RESIDENTS with knowledge of places that help tell Ballarat’s story are being invited to help shape the city’s future, with a fresh round of community consultation now open as part of the City of Ballarat Heritage Gaps Study. Following a year-long consultation that attracted more than 150 community nominations, the council has moved into the […]<\/p>\n