Enjoy the cricket, a snag, and share ideas

THIS Saturday evening, 28 February, Ross Creek and Smythes Creek residents are encouraged to attend a viewing of the area’s draft community plan during a free barbecue at the Ross Creek Recreation Reserve

Running from 5.30pm to 7pm, the Ross Creek Smythes Creek Community Group and its Community Coordinators will be hosting the event to gather feedback on the document before its implementation phase.

A Ballarat Fire Brigade Cricket Club home game will be played on the oval at the same time.

“We’ll have the sausage sizzle and a bit of an oration to show the ideas and see if we can get some stimulation from others,” said Ross Creek Smythes Creek Community Group president Shayne Wren.

The group’s Cathy Bushell said feedback from residents has been funnelled into themes in the draft plan.

“We want this to be a transparent process… and for people to work with us,” she said.

“It’s clear people want to see us advocate on their behalf. They want more community connectedness through activities and events, using our hall space and beautiful rec area.

“Managing the Recreation Reserve and making sure it continues to be there for the community is clearly important. We don’t have a town centre as such, so this is the heart of our community.

“Key partnerships with the school, Landcare group, council and Neighbourhood House can help us activate this space.

“The environment came up a bit in survey responses. People want to protect the lovely space we have out here, and we do have a very active local Landcare group.”

The Ross Creek/Smythes Creek community planning process began in June of 2025 with residents gathering to share initial ideas.

“We’ve gone through a phase of engaging people first through a two-page postal survey that went to every house, and activating ideas,” Mr Wren said.

“We got a lower than expected response from that but some very good ideas, and we’ve hand picked the ideas we think are feasible.

“Once we have feedback on the draft plan…then we can start to activate it, aim to secure funding and get ideas into master plans.”