Old school election rejection – May 2019 in review

BIRCH, Her Maj and soccer – 2 and 9 May editions

WITH the nationwide vote only a few weeks away election pledges were coming thick and fast and may was dominated by politics.

On top of promises in late-April, Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King went on announce $10 million for the Ballarat Innovation and Research Collaboration for Health project and $5 million for all-abilities access upgrades at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

A $500,000 promise by Liberal candidate Tim Vo for upgrades to Russell Square in Brown Hill would be quickly matched by Ms King, meaning no matter who won on 18 May, that facility would be getting new changerooms.

Mixed results – Thursday, 23 May edition

After all the huffing and puffing of a Federal election campaign, results from poling day were mixed.

Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King went onto extend her two-party preferred preference vote by just under four per cent, yet the mood at the Liberal Party function was buoyant as attendees celebrated the return to power of the Morrison Government.

While many of the pledges made by the Labor Party focused on the region evaporated as quickly as the mood changed at Treads Hall by 7pm on election night, Ms King said that she would fight for what was promised by the Libs.

“They should honour the election commitments they have made,” she said.

“Going forward with any regional development funds they have I think they are really going to need to have a look at the inequality of funding between there election promises and what they do in government.”

Some money in the bag – Thursday, 30 May edition

Not long after Australia handed down its decision on who will lead the country for the next three years (all going well) the State government put out its 2019-20 budget.

Included was $10 million for Her Majesty’s, $2.5 million for lighting around and near Lake Wendouree, $5 million for work to improve street scapes and public space in Sebas and $7.1 million for the Wendouree Recreation and Community Hub.

“What you’ve seen in the budget… is a budget that delivers on each and every one of the election commitments that we made,” said roads minister and Western Victoria upper house MP, Jaala Pulford said.

Yet when it came to one of the biggest pledges of the 2018 State election campaign, the $14 million dollar promise for 1000 free off-street carparking spaces, outcomes where a little less clear.

That pledge was to share in $30 million allocated for parking statewide. Even now there’s still no confirmation on where or how the spaces will be delivered.

Heritage on show – Thursday, 30 May edition

The city’s celebration of history, Heritage Weekend, was hailed as a huge success by organisers.

The two-day event saw about 16,500 people attend the various offerings across the Ballarat including the Tweed Ride, Beard & Stache Competition and steam train journeys.

Of those who attended, the City of Ballarat estimated that 30 per cent were from outside the city.

Then mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh said Heritage Weekend was one of the highlights of the year.

“This year, we wanted everyone to leave our city having loved everything about it, from its epic laneways, authentic stories and local creatives, to our amazing chefs, wine makers, and brewers who use the best produce our region has to offer, and I think we did that,” she said.