For his first ever City of Ballarat council meeting in his role as the municipality\u2019s new CEO, Evan King got started by tabling his initial report at the Tuesday, 24 February event.<\/p>\n
Continuing with many of the points interim CEO Janet Dore had passed along to him, Mr King said he\u2019s also looked forward to working on many of the City\u2019s future projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy start was a little different then planned\u2026 I\u2019m still working through catching up with the organisation and a whole range of stakeholders,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the weekend, we conducted a significant councillor executive workshop\u2026 I think it was a most successful two-day workshop that we could have hoped for, incredibly optimistic, incredibly open, honest conversation.<\/p>\n
\u201cCouncil has an enormous strategic agenda on its plate over the first twelve months of being a council from preparing four-year budgets, to council plans and municipal public health and wellbeing plans, to community visions.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Missing link<\/strong><\/p>\n As proposed by The Friends of Canadian Corridor, council considered the purchase of 55 Recreation Road, Mount Clear, to complete the Buninyong Rail Trail.<\/p>\n After hearing from a representative from FoCC, councilors agreed the acquisition of land and adding to the the walking and cycling trail would be beneficial, however, the details of the purchase needed to be teased out.<\/p>\n In support of a motion for the CEO to continue further negotiations, Cr Mark Harris said he thought asking for $45,000 from ratepayers for the land was a high price to pay.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is such a golden opportunity, I don\u2019t think there is a councilor in the room that doesn\u2019t want to pursue this with absolute vigour,\u201d he said. \u201cI just would\u2019ve thought it would\u2019ve been gifted to us.\u201d<\/p>\n Cr Des Hudson said the project was bringing community partners together.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we can get a better outcome, the message to government is that we could spend that $40,000 on community in another way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Seconding the motion, Cr Belinda Coates added, \u201cIt\u2019s just such a really great example of the power of community\u2026 and it\u2019s really important for people\u2019s physical and mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 3×3 courts approved<\/strong><\/p>\n After the tender process, councillors moved to award a contract for the further redevelopment of the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre to H Troon Pty Ltd.<\/p>\n For the total tendered price of $3,984,090, the project involves the building three-on-three basketball courts, a learning space and regional strength and conditioning centre.<\/p>\n Cr Ben Taylor said the project that further feeds into the positive activation happening at BSEC.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a chance to really grow sport, and Ballarat does an amazing job,\u201d he said. \u201cThese are the next stars for the future we\u2019re engaging\u2026 we have the facilities to do that.<\/p>\n \u201cThis allows people from Western Victoria to come here to Ballarat and enjoy these facilities\u2026 and thank you to the state government for the money to deliver this project just under the $4 million, under budget.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Irish Lalor ties strengthened<\/strong><\/p>\n Following discussions with Laois County Council in Ireland, the ancestral home of Eureka Stockade leader Peter Lalor, Tenakill Lalor House established cultural ties with Ballarat\u2019s own Eureka Centre.<\/p>\n Due to the shared history between the two places, a cultural accord was proposed to solidify their historical significance.<\/p>\n At a meeting of Laois County Council late last year, \u201cMembers unanimously agreed to proceeding with the signing of the document.\u201d<\/p>\n The City of Ballarat council subsequently moved to sign the accord, with Cr Harris saying he looks forward to fostering the cultural relationship between Ballarat and Lalor\u2019s birthplace.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great link and wish it all the success it deserves,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Amendments made<\/strong><\/p>\n Revision of both the Community Engagement Policy and the Councillor Code of Conduct were passed.<\/p>\n Changes were made after feedback that the Community Engagement Policy should be more extensive, inclusive to diverse community members, more authentic and be reported back to participants.<\/p>\n Cr Belinda Coates said she looks forward to seeing community involvement in local government developed further.<\/p>\n \u201cI see the whole area of community consultation and practice as an area for continuous improvement and I do see that we have had some improvements,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Seconding and supporting the motion, Cr Peter Eddy said, \u201cIt will also give us the confidence to be more decisive decision makers.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, the revised and updated Councillor Code of Conduct, which aims to guide councillors behaviour to ensure it is ethical and legal, also moved through council.<\/p>\n The revisions relate to treatment of others, performing the role of councilor, compliance with good governance measures and maintaining reputation.<\/p>\n Cr Coates said while there are some minor changes it doesn\u2019t change the key things councilors should do like treating others with respect and maintaining the highest standards of governance.<\/p>\n \u201cSimilar to the Community Engagement Policy, this updates and upgrades this particular piece of work to be in line with the Local Government Act,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to signing the revised code of conduct and continuing to raise the bar\u2026 it\u2019s an opportunity for continuous improvement.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" For his first ever City of Ballarat council meeting in his role as the municipality\u2019s new CEO, Evan King got started by tabling his initial report at the Tuesday, 24 February event. Continuing with many of the points interim CEO Janet Dore had passed along to him, Mr King said he\u2019s also looked forward to […]<\/p>\n