WHILE Juliana Addison comes to the end of her first term as the Labor Member for Wendouree, she\u2019s on the campaign trail, aiming to secure the State seat for another four years.<\/p>\n
The former teacher said preparing Ballarat for the Commonwealth Games will be a major focus for her if she is re-elected this month.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Ballarat, and my most pressing issue moving forward is that the city benefits for future generations,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about 14 days. If we are going to have record levels of investment… what legacy is that going to leave? What are the housing outcomes? What are the disability benefits for the whole community?<\/p>\n
\u201cAt Ballarat Station, for example, we\u2019re going to put in the lifts, more toilets, and a waiting room. This will benefit Ballarat commuters and visitors for decades to come.<\/p>\n
\u201cMars Stadium is going to have the ability to have 5000 more permanent seats, and that\u2019s got opportunity written all over it, for future concerts, activities, and AFL games. It means we\u2019re open for business.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Addison said she is \u201cbursting\u201d after yesterday\u2019s announcement that a re-elected Labor government will redevelop Marty Busch Reserve, but there\u2019s \u201cno single vision\u201d on any one project.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know to make Ballarat a better place to live, we have to invest in schools, roads, do free kinder, free TAFE for skills shortages, and make sure that local businesses are thriving so that they can create jobs,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Some of her first-term highlights include funding more than 93,000 breakfasts for school children across the electorate, upgrading train infrastructure, seeing the designs for the Ballarat Base Hospital expansion be realised, and redeveloping the Wendouree West Recreation Reserve.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rec reserve has been one of my proudest achievements. It was $7 million for community renewal, and investment in a community that had been neglected for decades,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo have the Y, the Men\u2019s Shed, and the Wendouree Neighbourhood House there when it\u2019s finished in January, that\u2019s going to be really special. When you invest in projects, you change outcomes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing that through the Forest Rangers Soccer Club, and across the board.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s other mega projects that I\u2019ve been a part of the planning, community consultation, and stakeholder engagement for that I really hope to be able to follow through,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WHILE Juliana Addison comes to the end of her first term as the Labor Member for Wendouree, she\u2019s on the campaign trail, aiming to secure the State seat for another four years. The former teacher said preparing Ballarat for the Commonwealth Games will be a major focus for her if she is re-elected this month. […]<\/p>\n