Ballarat’s line-up of annual January 26 activities and events are set to continue unchanged following a decision by the City of Ballarat Council.

The City of Ballarat will continue with its current offering of events and activities on 26 January after the council, at its recent scheduled July meeting, endorsed a report into community engagement relating to future activities and events to be held on the day.

Following a resolution at the December 2023 council meeting, a survey was hosted on the City of Ballarat’s MySay page to gauge community interest in activities and events on the public holiday.

The results showed that there is a variety of suggestions and opinions shared by the community and that the current mix of 26 January activities is providing options that appeal to different community members.

The current line-up of events and activities on 26 January that will continue includes: the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony and associated activities, Picnic in the Park and Citizenship Ceremonies.

The City of Ballarat has endorsed its first Social and Affordable Housing Action Plan.

Adopted by the council at its recent July meeting, the new plan identifies the ways the city can contribute to social and affordable housing outcomes, with a focus on facilitation and advocacy to address community needs.

The final plan followed the creation of a draft Social and Affordable Housing Action Plan, with subsequent community engagement undertaken between 20 May and 16 June.

The consultation resulted in minor changes to the original draft with eight new actions added, taking the total to 35 actions.

The Social and Affordable Housing Action Plan can be read in full on the City of Ballarat website.

The plan was among items on the agenda at the council’s recent July meeting.

Keepers at the Ballarat Wildlife Park say they’re delighted to welcome eight koala joeys this season.

It’s the highest number of koala joeys born at the local wildlife attraction that they’ve ever had in a single year to date.

The super cute new additions range in age from three to six months and keepers say the small baby boom at the park follows an increase in the number of mature adult koalas residing there.

The park’s head mammal keeper Cass Handcock says all of the new koala joeys are happy and healthy.

“Some are just a lump in their mum’s pouch,” Cass says.

“Some are starting to stick limbs out and some are starting to eat leaves.”

With wild koalas increasingly under threat due to habitat clearing, Ms Handcock says it has become important to breed them at zoos and wildlife parks.

“Their main threats are habitat clearing so they’re losing their home and losing the corridors that they can get between the homes that they live in,” Cass says.

The Ballarat Wildlife Park has also earlier launched a fundraising campaign aimed at planting gum trees to support habitat restoration efforts for koalas.

“Branching Out for Koalas,” seeks to address the pressing need for suitable habitat for these iconic Australian marsupials, as well as providing food for more than 40 koalas at the park.

“Branching Out for Koalas” is an urgent call to action for individuals, organisations, and businesses passionate about wildlife conservation with more information available from the park’s website, or by visiting the local attraction in person.

The funds raised through the campaign will be used to plant gum trees in designated areas within the Ballarat Wildlife Park and its surrounding regions.

Individuals and organisations are encouraged to contribute whatever amount they can to support the planting of gum trees and the restoration of koala habitats.

The Ballarat Wildlife Park will also be contributing to the fundraising efforts, by donating a portion of each koala encounter at the park.

Heritage advisers were last week called in to help with the repair of a damaged historic balustrade in Ballarat.

Restoration of the historic balustrade on the Hill Street bridge, near Kilderkin Distillery may take longer than initially thought with the council engaging heritage groups to investigate the history of the metal barrier.

The metal balustrade had been damaged by a car in May, and had since been sectioned off by temporary fencing panels, with police tape remaining visible.

City of Ballarat infrastructure and environment director Bridget Wetherall said engineers were assessing the viability of removing the iron work for repair, in accordance with heritage requirements.

It was not yet known if the entire balustrade would need to be replaced or if the existing infrastructure could be repaired.

To ensure public safety, temporary fencing was now expected to remain in place while works are undertaken.

The City of Ballarat will conduct a review of the share hire e-scooter trial in an effort to determine how the transport option may look into the future.

The council’s review of the trial comes after the state government confirmed e-scooters will become permanently legalised in Victoria later this year.

New offences and an increase in fines for offences committed while riding e-scooters will be introduced in October, while further legislation will be introduced in 2025.

It follows a two-year trial of e-scooters in regional Victoria for the past two years including in Ballarat, which began its trial in late 2021. It was extended three times.

City of Ballarat Director Development and Growth, Natalie Robertson, said Ballarat’s trial has been largely positive, and the city will consider the government’s announcement.

“There have been more than 300,000 trips undertaken in the trial period in Ballarat, totalling more than 700,000 kilometres,” she said.

“Research has shown more than 63 per cent of rides taken on the Ballarat e-scooters replaced what would have otherwise been a car trip.”

An ugly spate of vandalism may have put Ballarat’s electric vehicle charging stations near Big W out of action for at least another month but it’s now expected that the well-used charge points will be back and operating from next month.

The RACV operates the Curtis Street charging points near Big W, and energy general manager Greg Edye has apologised for the inconvenience for residents and travellers.

The charger screens have been damaged and Mr Edye said in a statement that parts required for their repair are currently unavailable because the “company who provides them has gone into receivership”.

However, he said they will be upgrading and installing new chargers as well as CCTV for additional security next month.

It’s not the first time the heavily used Curtis Street EV charging station has been unusable because of vandalism since opening in the first quarter of 2020.

The charging points were also temporarily unable to be used in August and September last year and residents voiced concern over how long it takes for the stations to be repaired with local EV users calling for improved regulation of charge point maintenance.

The next closest RACV chargers are at the Creswick Goldfields Resort or drivers can use the Plugshare app to see locations of all public chargers, Mr Edye said.

When installed in 2020, Chargefox, who runs the software said the location was ideal because of the proximity to public bathrooms, shops and places to eat.

“This kind of vandalism is particularly mindless as those who engage in it are actually damaging themselves,” an EV driver who had been a regular user of the infrastructure told The Local.

“Efforts to counteract climate change, including the shift to EVs, are obviously in the best interests of everyone who lives on this planet.”

Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward following a fire at an abandoned house in the Ballarat suburb of Wendouree during the week.

On Tuesday at about 12.40am CFA crews and Fire Rescue Victoria had been called to the scene of the blaze, off Wattle Avenue,

“Crews quickly attacked the fire, bringing it under control within five minutes of arrival,” an FRV spokesperson said.

“Firefighters then handed the scene to Victoria Police to investigate.”

A Victoria Police spokesperson said nobody was inside the house at the time of the fire and there were no injuries.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the fire are yet to be determined and police are treating it as suspicious,” the spokesperson said.

Anyone with information, dashcam or CCTV footage of the incident was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A confidential report can also be made online at the Crime Stoppers website.

A driver was rushed to hospital after hitting a power pole in the Ballarat suburb of Sebastopol in an early morning crash last Monday.

The man, 23, suffered non-life-threatening injuries a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

“It is believed a blue Ford Falcon struck a power pole at the intersection of Tait and Linkage streets just after 7.30am,” they said in a statement.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be determined and investigations are ongoing.”

The crash followed a “suspicious” car fire in Ballarat East the same morning.

Police said they were called to bushland near Long and Wilson Streets just after 7.30am, where a “vehicle was set alight”.

“The exact cause of the fire is not yet known, investigations remain ongoing,” the spokesperson said.

Anyone with information on either incident was urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or file a confidential report online using the Crime Stoppers website.

Ballarat Labor MP Catherine King says she welcomes what may be shaping as a large field of candidates vying for the Ballarat electorate in the next federal election.

The election can be held between next month and May 2025, with the last possible date on May 24 next year.

The Liberal Party earlier this month announced Wes McKnight as its candidate while Ms King has represented the federal Ballarat seat since 2001.

“Democracy is a wonderful thing … I welcome the announcement of the first [candidate] from the Liberal Party,” Ms King was reported saying to local media in recent days.

“[We’ve got] a great opportunity every three years to make decisions about how the country is going to be,” Ms King said.

She said her focus was on how to help people in the electorate considering cost of living pressures facing everyone, highlighting budget measures including energy bill relief, tax cuts and medication price decreases as well as Ballarat projects like the Sebastopol Hub as some of the examples of how she has helped while in government.

“We have had a drought of funding here in Ballarat under the Liberal Party,” Ms King said.

However, before Victorians vote for their federal representatives again, they have the opportunity to elect councillors in October while plenty of focus is also on the American election at the end of the year.

Amid all of this, Ms King said it was important to remember we have an “incredible democracy” in Australia.

A kindergarten facility in the Ballarat suburb of Sebastopol has undergone a much-needed facelift.

The Sebastopol South Kindergarten Refurbishment project was officially unveiled last Thursday, with Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison MP joining City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson and Eureka Community Kindergarten Association CEO, Joanne Geurts for a tour of the facility.

The project was funded with $500,000 from the State Government via its Building Blocks Early Childhood Refurbishment and Minor Works Program, with the City of Ballarat contributing a further $62,973.

The refurbishment of the Spencer Street kindergarten has delivered a fit-for-purpose and inclusive facility for 44 children per day in both three and four-year-old kindergarten.

The works include the addition of a large outdoor covered area to provide an improved indoor and outdoor learning experience and extending the children’s amenity areas into the existing verandah to include changing tables.  

The works also increased the internal storage space, improved the overall functionality of the facility with the addition of new adult and child height wash basins within the kindergarten rooms, and an upgrade to the heating and cooling system.  

Outside, landscape and facade treatments have significantly improved the appearance of the building.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the refurbished facilities aligned with the priorities outlined in the City of Ballarat’s Municipal Early Years Plan 2022–2026.

“It is vital we ensure that children at our centres have access to quality early learning, kindergarten and schooling that meets their needs,” he said.

“We are thankful for the State Government for their substantial investment in this project are very proud to help deliver it for the families of Sebastopol.”

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison MP said the refurbishment was a wonderful outcome for the community.

“Our littlest learners at the Sebastopol South Kinder deserve a bright, beautiful and safe learning environment,” she said.

“By modernising and expanding this kindergarten, we are delivering on our Best Start, Best Life reform and ensuring all children gain the academic and social benefits of kinder.”

The kindergarten refurbishment is the latest in a series of Sebastopol projects recently completed in collaboration with the State Government and City of Ballarat, including the Sebastopol Library Small Spaces Community Garden, the Urban Forest Update and completion of MR Power Park Upgrades.

Other collaborative projects that are currently under way include the implementation of projects within Marty Busch Reserve Master Plan and the construction of the Sebastopol Community Hub, which is also in conjunction with the Federal Government.

Detectives from the Armed Crime Squad have charged a man following a non-fatal shooting in Sebastopol last month.

With assistance from the Special Operations Group, a 25-year-old Sunshine North man was arrested in Ballarat last Wednesday afternoon.

The man has since been interviewed by investigators and charged with numerous offences including home invasion, intentionally cause serious injury, recklessly cause serious injury and unlicenced driving.

A search warrant was subsequently executed at a residential address in Sunshine, where police seized a number of mobile phones and a taser.

The charges follow an incident where emergency services were called to an Edwards Street address following reports of gunshots around 1.30am on Monday, 24 June.

On police arrival, a 25-year-old man was located at the premises with a gunshot wound to the upper body.

He was conveyed to hospital to be treated for serious but not life-threatening injuries.

At this stage, police believed the incident was targeted.

Anyone with information on illicit firearm activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at the Crime Stoppers website.

AFL Victoria has announced that the City of Ballarat will host the 2024 V/Line Cup, the annual representative carnival for the best under 15 boys and girls footballers from regional Victoria.

The Central Highlands will welcome around 600 players and officials as well as their families to a three-day event when the 75th edition of the V/Line Cup takes place during AFL Grand Final week, from Monday 23 until Wednesday 25 of September.

The V/Line Cup comprises three divisions – two boys divisions and a girls division – featuring representative teams from seven regions, competing in a total of 21 matches. Each team will compete in two matches over the carnival.

The City of Ballarat has thrown its support behind the event and will host the V/Line Cup for the first time, after the City of Greater Shepparton hosted the past three events (two separate events held in 2022 and again in 2023).

A big summer of cricket is building at Mount Clear, Ballarat.

Five new cricket nets at the Mount Clear Recreation Reserve were officially unveiled in recent days, and are now ready to be used by the club and community.

The City of Ballarat contributed approximately $561,000 to the Mount Clear Cricket Club Community Cricket Nets Project, while the State Government added a further $100,000.

The project also included the installation of new LED lighting on the adjacent netball court.

Two of the five nets are dedicated to the community for year-round use, while the cricket club will use the remaining three.

City of Ballarat councillor Ben Taylor said the new nets would greatly benefit the Mount Clear Cricket Club, which boasts more than 200 players, including a rapidly expanding female and gender diverse pathway program.

“We are very proud to be able to keep rolling out these incredible cricket nets throughout Ballarat,” he said.

“We have seen some fantastic nets rolled out at Doug Dean Reserve in Delacombe, Alfredton Recreation Reserve and Russell Square in East Ballarat in the recent years, now Mount Clear Recreation Reserve is home to these fantastic facilities.”

The new cricket nets completion followed the opening of the new scoreboard at Mount Clear Recreation Reserve in June 2023, the result of another partnership between the City of Ballarat and the state government.

Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle said the new nets would attract even more cricketers to Mount Clear.

“Mount Clear is an incredible community that’s about to have an even more incredible cricket training facility that hits for six,” she said.

“The new facility will bring even more young aspiring cricketers into the mix, strengthening both the sport and the community for years to come.”

Mount Clear Cricket Club enjoyed a successful 2023/24 season in the Ballarat Cricket Association with three of its four senior grades making the finals.

Mount Clear Cricket Club president, Andrew Vandebyl said the club was thrilled with the opening of the new nets.

“This upgrade will provide the best possible facilities for our players and the Mt Clear community to train, improve, and enjoy the game,” he said.

Words & Image: Supplied

The City of Ballarat has adopted a policy aimed at ensuring more equitable access to sporting and recreation facilities and programs for all genders.

At its June ordinary meeting, Ballarat City Council endorsed the Fair Access Policy, which seeks to address known barriers experienced by women and girls in accessing and using community sports infrastructure.

This policy establishes the expectation that gender and equality is prioritised in relation to sporting infrastructure, reflecting the City of Ballarat’s commitment to equal opportunity.

This would include, but is not limited to, the provision of female-friendly sporting change rooms, adding gender-based reporting into booking systems to collect data, undertaking Gender Impact Assessment’s on City of Ballarat strategies, and supporting local clubs to embed the principles.

A Fair Access Policy action plan will also be developed as part of a refresh of the Active Ballarat Strategy, due to take place in the 2024/25 financial year.

In the last four years the City of Ballarat has completed 12 projects with a focus on female-friendly access, with new builds or refurbishments at seven football/netball facilities and five soccer facilities.

Future sporting projects that have a female-friendly focus include the Doug Dean Reserve Changerooms Upgrade, City Oval Change Rooms Refurbishment and the Marty Busch Reserve No.2 Oval Changerooms.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said formalising the Fair Access Policy cemented the Council’s existing approach to gender equality at its sporting facilities.

“For a number of years now we have focused on keeping gender equality front of mind when it comes to our project planning and service delivery and I’m proud of the progress we have already made in this space,” he said.

“The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all genders and intersections can fully participate in all aspects of community sport, whether it is as a player, coach, administrator, official, volunteer, or spectator.”

Words: based on a media release issued by the City of Ballarat. Image: Supplied.

Detectives from the Criminal Proceeds Squad have this month charged a Gordon man and seized a firearm, ammunition, drugs and fireworks as part of an investigation into the manufacturing of firearms.

With assistance from the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), a 47-year-old Gordon man was arrested at his rural property in Gordon, near Ballarat, on Wednesday July 3.

He was charged with possess traffickable quantity of firearms, manufacture category A longarm, possess instruction manual to manufacture a firearm, prohibited person possess firearm, cultivate narcotic plant, possess methylamphetamine, possess unsecured ammunition and possess commercial explosive firework.

During the search of the property, police allegedly located and seized a manufactured longarm, ammunition, 29 cannabis plants and commercial fireworks.

An initial investigation by the Illicit Firearms Squad into firearm manufacturing led to a Criminal Proceeds Squad investigation into the assets of the 47-year-old man suitable for restraint.

On 18 June, a Confiscation Act restraining order was issued in the County Court for the rural Gordon property.

The 47-year-old man was served with documentation on Wednesday July 3.

Anyone with information about illicit firearms is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at the state’s Crime Stoppers website online.