CITY of Ballarat councillors are aiming to advocate on behalf of residents looking to push back at a proposed substation at 203 York Street in Golden Point.<\/p>\n
The decision was made with a unanimous motion from councillors during their regular meeting on Wednesday, 24 May, after having received a 36-signature petition against the substation\u2019s location.<\/p>\n
The presentation saw four submissions, including from Jenny Patterson, a Golden Point resident of four decades, who said the substation was unsuitable for the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2026 had a look at two substations in Ballarat and one in Castlemaine. None of these substations are near housing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI share the same concerns as everyone who lives in our tight-knit neighbourhood area noise-wise, aesthetics, effects on the Pennyweight Park Creek and Gully as well as the devaluation of our property.<\/p>\n
Ms Patterson also said consultation from Powercor representatives had been poor and that the location\u2019s surrounds has become too populated for a substation since the land was bought in the 1960s.<\/p>\n
Cr Amy Johnson moved the motion for a briefing on advocacy options, saying a substation would be \u201can eyesore\u201d for the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think this is an appropriate location. We should be doing all we can to encourage a choice of a different site,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
A briefing on potential advocacy options will come to council during their next meeting.<\/p>\n
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Report received<\/strong><\/p>\n Councillors looked back on the municipality\u2019s spending as part of their quarterly performance report, with carryover funds marking a key theme of the discussion.<\/p>\n The report listed a nearly-$80 million surplus which the municipality\u2019s director of corporate services John Hausler said was down to timing and funding changes on carryover projects.<\/p>\n \u201cThe majority of the impact we\u2019re seeing\u2026 is from capital projects not being completed in the timeframe we initially projected,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThese funds are still required to pay for the project council has committed to. We\u2019re at a constant process of going through, assessing the actual cost of the project and if the funds are still required.\u201d<\/p>\n Cr Ben Taylor said the report showcased the municipality in a \u201cgood and prudent\u201d financial position that plans for uncertainty.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bus note<\/strong><\/p>\n The bus route along Doveton Street is set to be considered as part of the municipality\u2019s bus network review following councillors’ noting of a joint letter.<\/p>\n The document featured \u201ca couple dozen signatures\u201d according to Cr Belinda Coates, who called for the submission to be considered part of the feedback for the municipality\u2019s bus network review.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important to note that particular connection does go right past our central library and these are the main older residents who have signed this petition,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a really good example of how the public transport network doesn\u2019t actually get people where they need or want to go.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Centre focus<\/strong><\/p>\n Councillors received an update on the municipality\u2019s handling of the Eureka Centre as part of their 2030: A Vision for the Eureka Centre plan.<\/p>\n Cr Daniel Moloney, who is one of two councillors part of the site\u2019s consultative committee, said the facility use has started to increase since the lifting of most COVID restrictions.<\/p>\n \u201cIts great to see a big part of those visiting, not just the museum but also the cafe and gift store and also the records office as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of those people are coming from outside of Ballarat, so 74 per cent. This vision is good for it.\u201d<\/p>\n More than 42,000 people are expected to visit the Eureka Centre by the end of the 2022\/2023 financial year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n