SALE of the former Mount Helen Preschool site at 14-16 Boak Avenue will go ahead despite continued objections from some local residents.<\/p>\n
The call was made by City of Ballarat councillors during their March regular meeting last week.<\/p>\n
Five public presentations were made against the officer recommendation to sell the site, with each speaker expressing unhappiness around the community consultation process by the municipality.<\/p>\n
Undertaken mid last year, the community consultation followed a deferral of a council vote on the site in late 2020.<\/p>\n
Originally, part of the recommendation read that \u201ca portion\u201d of the site\u2019s sale would go back into local community projects but Cr Des Hudson successfully moved an amendment for all the money to be reallocated and said a valuation of the property mid last year was \u201caround the $400,000 mark\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the amended motion, I think it gives us an opportunity to engage in good faith back with objectors and the local community about some of their priorities for the local area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to dispose of the asset, it has served its purpose well, but it is no longer fit-for-purpose and surplus to our needs.<\/p>\n
Municipal staff said potential community projects could include nearby Yarana Drive Park, footpath upgrades or for other public amenities in the suburb.<\/p>\n
Crs Mark Harris, Samantha McIntosh and Belinda Coates voted against the recommendation.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Rescission motion defeated<\/strong><\/p>\n Cr McIntosh\u2019s bid to rescind a resolution passed at last month\u2019s meeting awarding a tender for the Lake Wendouree lights, and to review alternative options for the project was defeated eight votes to one.<\/p>\n In putting forward her rescission motion, Cr McIntosh said she wanted to see the job done, but done right, with two public presenters criticising the City\u2019s engagement process.<\/p>\n \u201cI really want to make sure that I\u2019m here to not set the wrong precedent that we flip through a heap of future projects\u2026 with concerns about consultation,\u201d Cr McIntosh said.<\/p>\n Cr Hudson said debate around Cr McIntosh\u2019s rescission motion didn\u2019t concern the tender, but rather earlier stages of the project already approved by council.<\/p>\n \u201cThe arguments that I\u2019ve heard were part of the arguments that were put forward at the planning application stage which has been debated, moved, seconded and passed by a majority of councillors. That debate is over with,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Mayor Cr Daniel Moloney echoed Cr Hudson\u2019s comments and said the rescission motion \u201cdoesn\u2019t show good practice\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a signal to our community that planning permits can be undone at any time and reduces business confidence in our tendering processes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Cr McIntosh was the only councillor to vote in favour of the rescission motion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kids plan out for comment<\/strong><\/p>\n A draft Municipal Early Years Plan has been put on public exhibition.<\/p>\n The four-year document is aimed at guiding the City of Ballarat\u2019s vision for the wellbeing of children up to eight years old in the region.<\/p>\n Six goals were drafted for the MEYP using a framework by the Australian Research Alliance of Children and Youth called Nest.<\/p>\n The goals include children being safe and healthy, having material basics and a positive sense of culture and identity, learning, and participating.<\/p>\n Priorities and actions are also written for each goal, but Cr Amy Johnson said the treatment of vulnerable Ballarat children was \u201cour secret shame\u201d, noting family violence and infant mortality rates were higher in the region than the state average.<\/p>\n \u201cI appreciate the plan, I\u2019ve read it, I like the goals. I think we can be a little bit more bold,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Cr Johnson said the City could look into promoting the need for more foster carers and supporting Eureka Mums to remain in Ballarat following the announcement of the closure of their Sebastopol warehouse last month.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n