Glass recycling uptake good, says Mayor

DEPOSIT stations for glass recycling are being well utilised, Mayor Cr Samantha MacIntosh said at the City of Ballarat council meeting on Wednesday, 2 October.

She congratulated the community in supporting the new recycling rules noting that roadside bins are lighter now that glass is being separated.

In response to clarification sought by Cr Ben Taylor and Cr Grant Tillett the Mayor said the council has employed, on short term contracts, a number of Kerbside Education Officers to assist residents.

“They are ambassadors not inspectors, and no punitive action will be taken against residents as the officers are there to help,” Cr McIntosh said.

Cr Mark Harris said the community has really gotten behind the new initiatives as “they have done exceptionally well with a crisis that is not of their own making.”

Food plan gets OK

Council unanimously endorsed the City of Ballarat Good Food for All: Food Strategy and acknowledged the essential input of stakeholders and community groups in the development of the strategy.

Cr Belinda Coates, who moved the motion said it’s an important issue.

“We take for granted healthy and fresh food and thank you to all the stakeholders who gave input into the strategy,” she said.

The vision of the plan is for all residents to have access to and celebrate a vibrant, nutritious and sustainable food system while supporting local food production and the reduction of food and packaging waste.

Feeling good

Heartfelt representations from Victoria Police Superintendent Jenny Wilson and Dr Lynne Reeder, both members of the Compassionate Ballarat Steering Group, reinforced comments made by councillors before the Compassionate Ballarat Charter was unanimously affirmed.

Cr MacIntosh praised the messaging produced for the Charter which focusses on developing and nurturing the city’s social infrastructure.

Cr Des Hudson described Ballarat as “a tapestry of the haves and the have nots and this document will go a long way to seeing we do not leave anyone behind.”

While Cr Coates said the city has a trauma history and “we really need this compassionate movement.”

Trip across the Ditch

Council’s Curator of Parks and Nursery, Peter Marquand, will attend the Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand Congress in Wellington, New Zealand later this month after councillors approved the estimated $3000 of expenses involved.

Train gang

The City of Ballarat will partner with a consortium of Victorian regional municipalities namely Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton and the Latrobe Valley, in a joint advocacy program for major regional rail upgrades.

The city will commit to a maximum of $40,000 to assist in the funding of the program, with a proviso that the it has a seat on the governance committee.