The City of Ballarat is in the midst of delivering a significant city-wide transformational capital works program, which invests heavily in community infrastructure.
The $144 million program – with a further $60 million worth of projects in planning – is positioning Ballarat as a leading regional city and will leave a legacy in Ballarat for years to come.
The program of work is included in the recently approved 2023/24 Budget and includes the following major projects:
Her Majesty’s Theatre refurbishment – $10 million from the State Government and $4.8m from the City of Ballarat
Lake Wendouree & Victoria Park Link Lighting project – $2.5 million from the State Government and $670,000 from the City of Ballarat
Bridge Mall redevelopment – $18.6m City of Ballarat
Central Library redevelopment – $6.98m from the City of Ballarat and $500,000 from the State Government
Ballarat Airport runway upgrade and extension – $3.8m from the Federal Government and $5 million from the City of Ballarat
Ballarat Animal Shelter rebuild- $11.5 million from the State Government and $3 million from the City of Ballarat
Sebastopol Community Hub development – $4.5 million from the Federal Government* and $6 million from the City of Ballarat
Marty Busch Reserve upgrade – $8.4 million from the State Government
City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said he was exceptionally proud of the range of works underway and that they were a tangible demonstration of the Council’s commitment to the Ballarat community and its future.
“These intergenerational infrastructure projects reflect Council’s commitment to investing in what makes Ballarat a great place to live, work and invest. They provide huge benefits to our community by encouraging a healthier, more connected and more inclusive community.”
“I am proud to lead a Council that is committed to delivering a better Ballarat for today, tomorrow and for future generations to come. I am also very grateful to the State Government and Federal Government who are working in partnership with us on many of these projects,” he said.
For City of Ballarat Director Infrastructure and Environment Bridget Wetherall and her team of eight project managers, the opportunity to work on city-defining capital works projects – such as the Her Majesty’s Theatre or the Central Library refurbishment – is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”.
“A lot of us live here in Ballarat and we take real pride in what we can help deliver,” Ms Wetherall said.
Many of the large-scale projects that form the current capital works program have been “on the books” for some time and will have a significant impact on communities across Ballarat.
“Many of these initiatives will seek to change the face of the area, so while we’re getting on and doing business-as-usual – roads and minor facilities and other capital works – these initiatives are larger and more transformative,” Ms Wetherall said.
“You can really touch and feel and get involved, and I think that’s what makes these initiatives different in my view.”
By 2041, Ballarat is likely to have grown by at least 50,000 people. Ensuring the city’s community infrastructure can support this growth is why the City of Ballarat has created a new team dedicated to providing a framework for the planning and delivery of all projects including these major projects.
*Note: City of Ballarat is seeking further funding for the early years component
