THE second-ever Ballarat\u2019s Best Ideas competition has crowdsourced hundreds of positive and constructive suggestions for the city since last month, and will close at the start of next week.<\/p>\n
Co-founder of digital suggestion box platform Suggest it Nick Clare said about 80 to 85 per cent of responses have come from locals, while many visitors to the community over March and April, particularly during the Begonia Festival, have also shared their thoughts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose numbers are up on last year, and we\u2019ve also seen a big uptake in younger people giving ideas for the local community and businesses, so that\u2019s been really encouraging,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
A mix of ideas have been received, from bringing fishbowls into the waiting rooms of medical centres, to making train travel between the Wendouree and Ballarat stations free, and even creating a \u2018taste of Ballarat\u2019 ice cream to draw visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had lots around the visitor economy and hospitality sector, and how dining experiences could be improved, and there\u2019s been a big sustainability push this year,\u201d Mr Clare said.<\/p>\n
With the competition closing on Monday, he said it\u2019s \u201cnever too late to throw in an idea.\u201d Suggest it will even be campaigning at the Australia Junior Basketball Championships at Selkirk Stadium this weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cIdeas can be big or small, but it\u2019s the simple ones that can a difference to smaller businesses and organisations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you to the people of Ballarat for sharing their ideas and helping us crowdsource positive and constructive ideas,\u201d Mr Clare said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs simple as it sounds, it\u2019s really contributing towards the city\u2019s recovery post-COVID and encouraging businesses to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
In delivering the initiative, Suggest it is working with the City of Ballarat, Commerce Ballarat, the Committee for Ballarat, Runway, Federation University, Ballarat Regional Tourism, and Crazy Ideas College.<\/p>\n