Police detected 165 offences during a major road safety operation across Victoria’s west last month.

Operation West Connect saw highway patrol units enforcing across major arterials in Western Victoria targeting high-risk driving behaviour associated with road trauma.

It comes as 141 lives have been lost on the state’s roads so far this year, with 35 of those occurring on roads in Western Victoria.

Bendigo, Campaspe and the Macedon Ranges division has been the worst affected area in the state’s west with 10 lives lost this year, followed by the Ballarat and Moorabool division with a further nine lives lost.

There have been six fatalities in the Horsham/Northern Grampians division, four fatalities in both the Geelong/Surf Coast and the Mildura/Swan Hill divisions, and two fatalities in the Warrnambool/Southern Grampians division.

There were three fatal collisions on roads in Western Victoria in June, and a further six during the previous month in May – three of which were motorcyclists.

Operation West Connect is an ongoing operation focused on detecting speeding, distracted and impaired drivers.

Sixty per cent of offences detected in June were for speeding, with two thirds of speeding drivers detected between 10km/h and 25km/h over the speed limit.

Police conducted 338 preliminary breath tests and 50 preliminary oral fluid tests for drugs, detecting three drug driving offences and two drink driving offences.

The total 165 offences detected during Operation West Connect on Friday 28 June 2024 included:

• 100 speeding offences;

• 20 unregistered vehicles;

• Eight disqualified/suspended and unlicenced drivers;

• Four heavy vehicle offences;

• Three drug driving offences from 50 roadside drug tests;

• Two drink driving offences from 338 preliminary breath tests;

• Two mobile phone offences;

• Two seatbelt offences;

• One vehicle impoundment; and

• One disobey traffic signal

Operation West Connect will continue across Western Victoria – encompassing major arterial roads from Geelong, Bacchus Marsh, Bendigo and Echuca as far west as the SA Border, and from the Surf Coast, Warrnambool and Portland as far north as the NSW Border.

Western Region Road Policing Inspector, Justine Ryan: “While road trauma is actually down on roads in Western Victoria compared to last year, 35 lives lost is still far too many, and we know first-hand the ripple effect this has across our communities.

“Operation West Connect is just one road policing initiative we’ve implemented to help keep all road users safe on roads out in the state’s west.

“Our highway patrol members are always actively on the look out for motorists who flout the rules and make dangerous choices that put all road users lives at risk.

“Speeding continues to be a major contributing factor to serious injury and fatal collisions on regional roads, and yet we continue to catch so many people going over the speed limit.

“Slowing down and sticking to the speed limit, as well as avoiding distractions behind the wheel, are things we can all do to help make our roads safer and prevent further tragedies.”

Forest Fire Management Victoria is keen to secure additional staff, with the agencies’ annual recruitment drive for seasonal firefighters now underway through to July 28.

Applications are now open for project firefighter roles across 10 locations in the Grampians region including Daylesford, Ballarat, Bacchus Marsh, Edenhope, Cavendish, Horsham, Halls Gap, Wail, Beaufort, and Serendip.

Grampians Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Jason Hellyer, said successful applicants would boost Victoria’s
firefighting and land management capacity in the lead-up to summer and peak fire season.

“Being a project firefighter can bring a sense of purpose and personal achievement knowing your efforts
contribute to protecting Victorian communities and the environment,” Mr Hellyer said.

“Recruits will have opportunities to train and work alongside FFMVic’s permanent firefighting staff,
responding to emergencies such as bushfires and floods.

“They will also work in land management and help reduce bushfire risk through planned burning, weed
control and maintaining the public land road network.

“Planned burning and emergency response deployments can occur anywhere across the state, providing
opportunities to travel and work in different locations.”

“In previous seasons, some recruits have also been deployed to support firefighting efforts across Australia and internationally. The new recruits will be part of a team of close to 1800 frontline personnel and 1200 accredited incident management personnel this bushfire season.”

Fire support officer roles will also be available in Horsham. Fire support officers are primarily office-based roles which are responsible for helping district staff coordinate fire preparedness, prevention and response activities and support incident and regional control centres.

FFMVic is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects the Victorian community. As part of an ongoing commitment to support meaningful careers for current and future First Nations staff, designated positions are available.

Applications are set to close July 28 and employment occurs between October and May, with some variation depending on seasonal requirements.

Police released CCTV footage earlier this week as they continue search efforts to locate missing Ballarat area woman Renee.

The 42-year-old left her address on Western Highway, Warrenheip about 1.25pm on 30 May.

Renee was seen leaving the address with her black cat, Shadow, in a cat carrier.

The cat was later found left outside a house while Renee attended an address on Buchanan Drive in the Ballarat suburb of Lucas, about 6am on 2 June.

She rang the doorbell and briefly spoke to a resident inside, asking for clothing and water before leaving.

Police and family have concerns for her welfare as she has a medical condition and has been missing for such a long time.

Investigators do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances, but Renee may be confused and is possibly deliberately trying to avoid people.

Checks have also revealed that Renee’s bank accounts haven’t been accessed in more than a month, adding to police concerns.

Investigators have released an image and the last known footage of Renee in the hope that someone can provide information on her current whereabouts.
 

She is described as being Caucasian, of slim build, about 170cm tall with blonde hair. Renee was last seen wearing a grey hooded jumper.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact Ballarat Police Station on (03) 5336 6000.

The newest piece of public art in the North Gardens sculpture park will be developed by Wadawurrung artist, Kait James.  

The artwork will tell the story of Time, Place, Country and Culture which may include stories about the geography and geology of Lake Wendouree, Ballarat and the larger Western Basalt Plains. 

Kait’s work asks questions relating to self, perception and the collective lack of knowledge of Indigenous culture and community and exploring her identity as an Australian woman with Indigenous and Anglo heritage. 

Wadawurrung artist Kait James said creating a new work for the North Gardens Sculpture Park is both an honour and a profound responsibility. 

“It offers an opportunity to share our rich culture with the broader community, I’m thrilled to not only contribute to this space but also follow in the footsteps of my cousin Deanne Gilson, who created Murrup Laarr in 2019,” she said.

Kait will now commence working on the concept for the design for the newest addition to the North Gardens Sculpture Park. 

The North Garden Indigenous Sculpture Park is located on the edge of Lake Wendouree and an important site for the traditional owners of the land, the Wadawarrung people. 

Launched in 2019, the North Gardens Indigenous Sculpture Park is a significant project for the City of Ballarat and is designed to feature works by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, celebrating the richness and diversity of culture and telling important cultural stories.

The sculpture park highlights the cultural connections to Country and the Wadawurrung people’s occupation of the land surrounding Ballarat.

This piece of art will join the inaugural sculpture in the park, Murrup Laar (above) by local Wadawurrung artist Dr Deanne Gilson.

Murrup Laar was created using local basalt stones to tell Wadawurrung stories of dreaming, memory and ceremony.

City of Ballarat Councillor Belinda Coates said the sculpture park is a place to celebrate and respect the environment and the long‐standing relationship the Wadawurrung have with their Country.

“It is important to have public art that symbolises continuing traditions, of healing, ecologies and a venue for gatherings to celebrate the spirit of the Lake Wendouree landscape,” she said. 

Words & Images: Supplied

In a move likely to please many motorists, free parking at Ballarat GovHub will be made available to the community from next year.

Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney said that 120 car spaces in the city’s GovHub will be open for everyone to use from 2025, so locals have even more free parking options that are close by to where they want to go.

The car parks, which are part of a 2018 state government commitment provide Ballarat’s CBD with 1000 free spaces, will be open to the public from 2025.

These car parks are in addition to 147 spaces already constructed at White Flat Oval, Havelock Street and Market Street, and another 400 spaces which are being built at the Ballarat Base Hospital.

The government claims it will have delivered a total of 1400 parks to Ballarat’s CBD by 2026, but this includes commuter parking as part of the Ballarat Station Redevelopment.

A prominent Ballarat corner is receiving a significant facelift celebrating cultural diversity.

Works on the Intercultural Garden at the intersection of the city’s Sturt and Pleasant streets started last week and aim to beautify the existing green space and create a welcoming garden.

The City of Ballarat has engaged local company S.H.A.E Enterprises Pty Ltd to complete the project, which is expected to be finished before the end of the year.

The area on the north-western corner of the intersection near the City Oval football ground and City Oval Bowling Club will be inaccessible to the public during this time.

Highlights of the garden include a community flagpole, picnic shelter, park furniture, an arts display plinth, electrical and water connections, paths, a circular display garden and other plantings, and a drinking fountain provided by Central Highlands Water.

Image: Supplied

A Ballarat park dedicated to honouring a national hero from the Philippines is undergoing a significant upgrade.

Rizal Park, named after Dr Jose Rizal, was established in 1999 and was the first Australian park dedicated to the Filipino nationalist, writer, anthropologist and educator. 

Born on 19 June 1861, Dr Rizal was a staunch advocate for equal rights of the Filipino people living under Spanish colonial rule.

While in exile in Europe due to his political activism, he spent years writing to expose injustice and advocate for Filipino equality and human rights.

He was executed by the Spanish colonial government in 1896 at age 35, sparking the Philippine revolution and leading to the First Philippine Republic in 1898.

Every year, Ballarat’s Filipino community gather at Rizal Park, in Invermay Park, to honour his birthday. 

This year, Consul-General of the Philippines Maria Lourdes Salcedo (pictured below) visited Rizal Park to celebrate the completion of stage one of the improvement works.

Stage 1 of the upgrades included: 

• relocating the existing plaque for increased safety
• a new connecting path
• refurbishment of the existing shelter
• and a new seating area.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said it was an honour to have the Consul-General in Ballarat to celebrate a highly important day on the Filippino calendar.

“We know from working so closely with our local Filippino community that this park is of genuine significance to them, so we are proud to upgrade it,” he said.

“Having the Consul-General visit Ballarat on this special day for Filippino people is an honour.”

Rizal Park is one of a suite of local parks being upgraded as part of the City of Ballarat’s Neighbourhood Park Program.

Stage two of the upgrades will include an improved playspace, seating and tree planting and is expected to be finished by mid-2025, following further community engagement.

Words & Images: Supplied

The City of Ballarat is updating its flood modelling and mapping to help introduce controls for land use and development on flood prone lands.

In 2018 the City of Ballarat began preparation for a Planning Scheme Amendment to introduce Flood Overlays for 11 Waterways within urban Ballarat.  

The City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021 – 2025 identified a need to better understand the effects of flooding on properties within the municipality and introduce appropriate planning controls so that residents are informed and equipped to manage flooding should it occur.  

Planning has been underway, with external experts identifying the flood extents and depths for eleven waterways across Ballarat:  

• Yarrowee River
• Gnarr Creek
• Canadian Creek and tributaries
• Bonshaw Creek
• Redan Creek
• Kensington Creek
• Chase Waterway
• Little Bendigo Creek
• Hit or Miss Gully
• Warrenheip Creek
• Ryans Drain.

This flood mapping will also influence the City of Ballarat’s flood mitigation works in the future.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said this modelling will assist in better understanding of flooding effects in certain areas across the municipality.  

“The flood mapping of these waterways is an enormous task, that will assist planners, developers and landowners to mitigate flood risk and ensure development is undertaken safely in flood prone areas,” he said.  

“I urge the community to view the mapping on our MySay page to familiarise themselves if their property is in a flood risk area.”  

The full mapping will be available for review at the City of Ballarat’s MySay page, until 15 July 2024.

Following consultation a report will be put forward to Ballarat City Council for consideration of a planning scheme amendment process to introduce flood controls for land use and development on flood prone lands.

Words & Image: Supplied

A tender for management works at Ballarat’s former Black Hill Landfill site is being advertised in compliance with Environment Protection Authority requirements.  

The works are expected to commence in November 2024 and will be completed by June 2025.

The site will be closed to the community and fenced for public safety during the construction and establishment of vegetation. Once vegetation is completely established, the site will be re-opened to the community. 

The tender for works at the site, known as Chisholm Street Reserve, will include the installation of a landfill gas trench to intercept and passively vent any potential landfill gas.

The tender also includes improvements to stormwater engineering controls to direct stormwater, ensuring it drains away from the landfill surface.

The City of Ballarat manages the former Black Hill Landfill site, which was operational from about 1967 to 1982. 

City of Ballarat Director Infrastructure and Environment Bridget Wetherall said the works will be beneficial for the community and the environment.  

“It is important that we conduct the management works to comply with Environment Protection Authority guidelines while ensuring that the community and our environment is protected,” she said.  

The Chisholm Street Reserve is used for community recreation and is managed and monitored by the City of Ballarat.  

The landfill gas venting works will take place at the rear of several houses on the southern side of Leerama Court.

These residents have been notified. The City of Ballarat will continue to liaise with nearby residents to address any questions.

Ballarat’s Regent Cinema has suddenly closed its doors – just a week out from the winter school holidays.

Management posted on Monday, June 24 that: “It’s with a great amount of sadness that we have taken the decision to cease operations effective immediately.

“We have arrived at this point after a great deal of consideration and as result of a number of factors that have contributed to the heart-breaking decision to close the business.

“We would like to thank the Ballarat community for their support over the years.”

A sign outside the cinema says there are no session times available and customers who had booked for events like birthday parties have received emails saying the booking can no longer be honoured.

On social media people posted they had wonderful memories of the historic cinema.

“Absolutely heartbreaking…I have so many wonderful memories of going to the Regent, even from childhood when my first ever movie (The Muppets take Manhattan) was shown and they had intermissions, or in recent years, the fabulous camaraderie of a packed-out theatre, celebrating the latest Star Wars movie. Is there no way this can be kept…the Regent is a huge part of Ballarat’s history and culture!”

“Sad news, but cinemas have been struggling for a long time and the studios haven’t helped. Almost every second movie these days is a nostalgia recall for people like me who grew up in the 80s, but guess what, we don’t go out on a Friday night now.

“The studios failure to deliver for contemporary audiences, plus the fact that movies are on streamers within weeks meant that cinemas needed to sell an experience – but it was a notoriously expensive one given the cost of food and drink. I hope someone else comes in a can turn it around. Free popcorn and soft drink refills would be a start given tit cost next to nothing for the vendor.”

“What a shame we will be losing the Regent Cinemas Ballarat. We have been supporting for so many years with our family of six and so many movies have been seen.

“Recently to see IF and I was surprised that on a Tuesday afternoon we were the only ones in there with one older regular customer.

“It’s a shame there wasn’t notice for all, not knowing the circumstances but with winter school holidays starting I’m sure many would have loved the opportunity to use their vouchers/loyalty points and just one last hoorah for The Regent.”

History

The Regent was opened in 1928 with almost 2000 seats in stalls and balcony levels. 

Melbourne architects Arthur W. Purnell and Cedric H. Ballantyne were responsible for the design. Mr Ballantyne also designed the Regent Theatre on Collins Street in Melbourne.  

Fire damaged the interior in 1943 and architects were commissioned to redesign the building. 

Hoyts closed the business in 1970 but it was re-opened in 1976 by the Anderson family.

Ten years later it was opened as three separate theatres and in the early 2000s another three screens were added.

Words: Donna Kelly

Swimmers from across Victoria are set to converge on Ballarat this weekend as the 2024 Victorian Relay Competition comes to town.

To be held in regional Victoria for the first time, the Swimming Victoria event will see an action-packed day of action at Ballarat Lifestyle and Aquatic Centre this Saturday, June 22.

The event will be held using the long-course 50-metre pool and is open to Swimming Victoria members but also to swimmers not currently registered with a club.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said securing the event was a win for the city’s premier swimming venue.

“To be the first regional venue to host the 2024 Victorian Relay Competition is fantastic,” he said.

“We believe our sporting facilities are of high quality standard and we have invested significantly in them over the years to ensure we can continue to attract significant events such as this.

“We can’t wait to welcome people from all over Victoria to the event.”

Among the teams to have travelled for the event are: CGGS Aquatic in Canterbury, D5 Swim Club in Mt Eliza, DVE Aquatic in Greensborough and Westbourne Swim Club in Truganina.

Swimming Victoria Events Experience Manager Narelle Holding said the annual relay event was one of the highlights on the calendar, as it created a fun, team environment, without the added championship-level pressure.

“It is clear from all our events, state championships level included, that everybody loves the relay races the most,” she said.

“They are fun and for a sport that often feels like an individual sport, it can really provide a great team connection.

“We can’t wait to bring the event to Ballarat.”

Racing will get under way at 11am.

On the rear deck of the Sebastopol library, a community garden is sprouting to life and providing vital skills and knowledge, as well as building community cohesion.

The Sebastopol Library Small Spaces Community Garden project was officially opened in recent days, with Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson touring the facility.

The project was funded with $34,900 from the State Government’s ‘Jumpstart! Round 2 Program’ and delivered by the City of Ballarat.

The funding enabled:

• The installation of raised planter boxes and establish small spaces gardens.  
• The installation of a small outdoor kitchen, to deliver cooking workshops with community partners.
• Workshops to facilitate small spaces gardening and seed saving during school terms, with a focus on children and young people.
• The establishment of a seed library alongside the garden, so that the community can continue with their gardening activities at home.

The Sebastopol Library project is one of 180 VicHealth Jumpstart! projects across the state, which aim to provide more opportunities for Victoria’s children and young people through sport, active play, art and food.

The City of Ballarat has been partnering with community groups, such as Food Is Free, and hosting cooking masterclasses with the likes of chef Tim Bone to teach useful and transferable skills that can assist with ongoing health and nutrition.

In total, more than 230 people have participated in programs including planting days, school holiday programs, and cooking activities.

Now fully established, the programs and garden will be supported by the City of Ballarat into the future.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the project would prove a vital community asset.

“At a time when cost of living pressure is high for families, there is a lot to be gained from educating people about gardening and growing your own food,” he said.

“We often say that libraries are about so much more than just reading books and projects like this reinforce that. Libraries are great social hubs and broader learning environments that go far beyond sitting down and quietly reading.”

Member for Wendouree, Juliana Addison MP said the new space would certainly be an asset to the community.

“Creating opportunities for our community to become skilled up in gardening creates not only social cohesion, but a deeper understanding of where our food comes from,” she said.

“The Small Spaces Community Garden Project is about promoting learning, developing knowledge and encouraging participation.” 

The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is delivering a number of Stand for Council information sessions for the community and prospective candidates.

Every four years, City of Ballarat residents vote to elect Councillors to represent the Ballarat community. The next Council Election will be held on Saturday 26 October 2024. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) is responsible for managing local Council elections.

Local democracy hinges on the need for councils to represent the diverse needs and aspirations of our local communities. This year’s council elections are an opportunity for Victorians to elect the candidates who they think best represent, at the local level, their vision and interests for a better, stronger and more sustainable future.

This election, the Ballarat Municipality will move from three wards to nine, each of these nine wards will have one elected Councillor, these new wards will be:

1. Alfredton Ward
2. Brown Hill Ward
3. Buninyong Ward
4. Central Ward
5. Delacombe Ward
6. Golden Point Ward
7. North Ward
8. Sebastopol Ward
9. Wendouree Ward

In partnership with Victorian councils, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) is delivering a number of Stand for Council information sessions for the community and prospective candidates. These sessions can be attended either in-person or online.

By attending one of these sessions, participants will be provided with information about:

• Local government and the important role councils play for our local communities
• The role and responsibility of a Councillor, Mayor, Deputy Mayor and CEO
• The election process and candidate requirements
• What newly elected councillors can expect soon after the elections
• Councillor training and development opportunities.

The sessions will be held at various metropolitan and non-metropolitan locations across Victoria, with interested participants able to register to attend more than one session, including outside of their municipality.

The Wimmera Southern Mallee region (hosted by City of Ballarat) Candidate Information Session will be held on:

• Thursday, 8 August at the Ballarat Town Hall. To register visit the MAV Stand for Council web page

To support and encourage a range of diverse candidates the MAV will also be hosting a number of additional sessions for women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disabilities, youth, culturally and linguistically diverse and LGBTIQA+ communities.  

Key dates* for the upcoming local government election process are as follows:

*These dates may change subject to the proposed Local Government (Governance and Integrity) Bill 2024.

The City of Ballarat’s draft Industrial Land Strategy has recently opened for community review and feedback.  

The draft Industrial Land Strategy is now available for the community to review and provide feedback until 14 June 2024.  

Residents can view the drafts strategy, maps and further information online at the City of Ballarat’s MySay web page.

As the economy grows and changes, new commercial and industrial opportunities are forecast to arise in the municipality and will need to be accommodated on land or in existing buildings identified for that purpose.

Planning for future industrial and commercial areas is important to ensure the ongoing supply of suitable spaces for industry, business and employment opportunities for Ballarat.

This strategy will help Ballarat take advantage of emerging business interests that contribute to and help grow the local economy and employment in the region.

Industrial land should be available in suitable locations such as away from residential areas and with good access to road and rail infrastructure – the draft strategy seeks to address this.  

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the Industrial Land Strategy will prepare Ballarat for future business and employment opportunities.  

“It is important to plan for all types of land use, including future industrial land supply, to ensure that Ballarat is prepared for the projected population growth over the coming years,” he said.  

“Our Strategic Planning team have been busy developing important documents to assist Ballarat’s growth, such as the Housing Strategy, Growth Areas Framework, and now the Industrial Land Strategy.  

“Together, this strategic work will inform and guide future planning and investment decisions in our city.”

The City of Ballarat has released its Draft Footpath Construction Strategy for community review and feedback in recent days.

The Draft Footpath Construction Strategy guides how the City of Ballarat prioritise and fund where new footpaths are built to improve safety, transport choices, health and wellbeing, as well as supporting local economic activity and productivity.

It also identifies where new footpaths are needed most, where sealing of existing unsealed footpaths should take place, and highlights missing links in the city’s footpath network.

Feedback from the local community will inform the final Footpath Construction Strategy and those keen to participate can provide feedback on the Draft Footpath Construction Strategy up until 5pm, Sunday 23 June at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au/footpath-strategy.

The strategy features an equitable approach to the construction of footpaths, outlining a community-informed prioritisation framework for identifying which gaps in the footpath network should be built first.

The strategy is designed to improve accessibility for communities most in need including, but not limited to, carers, people with disability and those without access to private transport.

The City of Ballarat held extensive community consultation in the development of the Draft Footpath Construction Strategy.

It also helped guide the development of a number of key recommendations.

Key recommendations of the draft strategy include:

• Undertake regular demographic analysis of population segments to ensure a clear understanding of which communities may have greater needs from the footpath network
• Explore opportunities to apply special rate and charge schemes to footpath provision, where willing residents could help co-fund their local footpath, if the path is not earmarked for construction
• Engage with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners on each year’s Footpath Construction Plan to support landmarks or sightlines of cultural significance near planned footpath construction
• Investigate opportunities to improve personal security, physical safety, accessibility and connectivity of footpaths to ensure women have equal opportunities to benefit from footpath construction, and
• Prioritise footpath gaps for construction according to a framework that prioritises primary and secondary pedestrian routes aligned to the Principal Pedestrian network, as well as local connectivity, adjacent road speed and suburb and locality footpath index of need.

City of Ballarat Councillor Mark Harris thanked the community for having their say in the first round of community consultation and encouraged all residents to now provide feedback on the draft strategy.

“Community feedback highlighted the importance of footpaths providing access to a range of local destinations,” he said.

“The draft strategy identifies a framework to promote local living so that footpaths can now be prioritised in a way that aims to provide a complete network between activity centres.

“The strategy will work to ensure footpaths are accessible to all, prioritising construction where coverage is poor, and in the locations where people have the strongest reliance on footpaths for mobility.”

Community consultation, which was held from 5 February until 3 March, worked to understand how residents use the footpath network and to gather feedback on the proposed decision-making framework.

Workshops were held with key stakeholders including the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and City of Ballarat’s Ageing Well, Community Inclusion, LGBTIQA+ and Youth Services teams. Two community pop-up sessions were also held at the Ballarat Farmers Market and the Skate Park Leagues Competition.

More than 460 residents contributed to the consultation, with 264 surveys completed and 580 contributions made to the interactive pin-drop map.