Detectives from the VIPER Taskforce have arrested a man and seized illicit tobacco products following a ram raid at tobacco store in Ballarat last week.

Shortly after 6am on Thursday 15 February, police were called to reports of a ram raid on a tobacco store on Curtis Street in Ballarat.

It appears a vehicle was reversed into the front entrance of the store before the driver fled without gaining entry.

Members from the VIPER Taskforce today executed on a warrant on that same premises, locating over 1000 sticks of illicit cigarettes.

A 45-year-old Winter Valley man was arrested and interviewed by police in relation to possessing drugs of dependence, possess illicit tobacco, possessing proceeds of crime and weapons offences.

He was expected to be charged on summons.

Anyone with information on illicit tobacco was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website online.

Ballarat Crime Investigation Unit detectives, with the assistance of the Homicide Squad, have been investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of two people in Sebastopol last Friday night.

Police were called to a property on Morgan Street about 9pm after reports two bodies had been located.

A 55-year-old Ballarat man and a 42-year-old Sebastopol woman were located deceased at the address.

The exact circumstances surrounding the incident is yet to be determined at this stage, however detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the matter.

Police also believe the parties involved were known to each other.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online via the Crime Stoppers website.

Kerbing works have begun as part of Ballarat’s Bridge Mall redevelopment project.

Kerbing around the garden beds marks seven months since the City of Ballarat and civil infrastructure and landscape contractor 2Construct began works to revitalise the historic retail precinct in the centre of Ballarat.

Paving works are now being prepared for the mall with sample panels being installed, while works will soon begin to lay bluestone pavers along the low-speed carriageway and in Time Lane.

Some of the bluestone blocks, which represent more than a century of Ballarat history, have been reclaimed from the former La Trobe Street saleyards. 

The bluestone has been sawn smooth to provide easy accessibility for pedestrians in the laneways. Uncut bluestone cobbles are also being laid with the weathered side facing up at the entrance and exit of the carriageway to create a textured finish.

In the next few weeks, crews are expected to begin the installation of custom furniture and street furniture, soft landscaping and signage.

Works have started on the demolition and excavation of Time Lane, with new smooth-surfaced bluestone pavers set to be installed. Once these works are complete, works will then begin on Foundry Way.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the kerbing marks the beginning of works that showcase the final finishes of the project.

“It is exciting to see the kerbing works commence and the redevelopment taking shape,” he said.

“Businesses in the Bridge Mall are open and trading as usual and I encourage everyone to continue to visit, watch the redevelopment continue to progress and to support their favourite businesses.”

Bridge Mall Business Association (BMBA) President Wen McLachlan said the works mark a positive milestone.

“The traders and customers will now be able to really visualise the exciting new space that is evolving every week,” she said.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the City of Ballarat for their vision, 2Construct and all their teams for the great efforts made this far into the project.

“We look forward to its completion and our new entry into the space connecting us with Sturt Street, creating a positive change for the future.”

Once completed, the redevelopment will restore the Bridge Mall as a vibrant destination for shoppers, diners, residents and visitors.

The redevelopment will feature a landscaped entry into the mall, a shared streetscape with one-way, low speed vehicle access via a mixture of salvaged heritage bluestones and Victorian bluestones, as well as a dynamic new play space.

The redevelopment will also include a portal to the Yarrowee River flowing beneath the mall, smart street lighting and projections, limited parking and better access for people of all abilities.  

Works undertaken since the project began in July include:

• Demolition of the centre of the mall, including removal of three fixed canopies, street furniture and pavers, and removal of remnant sections of tram track dating back to 1905 in accordance with heritage approvals
• Bulk excavation from the Peel Street end of the mall right through to Grenville Street, including removal of a significant amount of contaminated soil
• North and south stormwater pipe installation
• Coordination with Central Highlands Water as they replace water mains through parts of the construction zone
• Night works to remove and dispose of asbestos-containing telecommunication pits, and installation of new communications pits
• Installation of services, traffic signal pits and electrical conduits for smart street lighting
• Installation of smart poles, which will light the space and highlight historic facades. These will also be equipped with power supplies and CCTV
• Installation of tree pits to support the growth of the new landscaped gardens
• Reinforcement and stabilisation of the material beneath the carriageway (known as the sub-grade)
• Concreting to form the base of the road alignment and planned central event space
• Concreting of footpaths in preparation for paving works
• Removal and cutting of bluestone salvaged from the former La Trobe Street saleyards
• Opening up the portal to the Yarrowee River.

The Bridge Mall redevelopment is currently on track for completion mid-2024, subject to weather delays or unforeseen issues.

After a successful trial series, the City of Ballarat’s Parent Place Outreach service will continue in 2024.

Parent Place Outreach brings the same vital support as the facility at 39 Sturt Street, but directly to communities with a high proportion of vulnerable families across Ballarat.

Parent Place supports families with young children to thrive, providing timely and relevant information and community connection in a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment.

Some of the services include playgroups, kindergarten, maternal and child health, community-based lactation services, immunisation, childcare, family day care, family violence and family law support and advice.

Parent Place Outreach began as a trial project in December 2022 via funding from VicHealth.

Due to the service’s success, which had more than 330 visits in its first year of operation, the City of Ballarat committed to funding the project and committed to strengthening the presence in the community in 2024.

The best way to stay up to date with Parent Place, including the Outreach programs is via the Parent Place website or by following Parent Place on Facebook.

Some upcoming Outreach service locations for term one will include:

• Tomorrow, Monday 19 February from 9.30am to 10.30am – Sebastopol Library | 181 Albert St, Sebastopol followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Tuesday 20 February from 9.30am to 10.30am – Lucas Community Hub |17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Friday 1 March from 9.30am to 10.30am at Delacombe Salvation Army | 104 Greenhalghs Road, Delacombe followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Monday 4 March from 9.30am to 10.30am – Sebastopol Library | 181 Albert St, Sebastopol followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Monday 18 March from 9.30am to 10.30am – Sebastopol Library | 181 Albert St, Sebastopol followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.
• Tuesday 19 March from 9.30am to 10.30am – Lucas Community Hub |17 Coltman Plaza, Lucas followed by Ballarat Libraries storytime.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said the continuation of the project would be vital for parents and carers to be able to access the services available at Parent Place, even if they could not physically visit the Sturt Street facility.

“Parent Place Outreach is the perfect opportunity for parents and children to play, relax, connect with other families as well as receiving important local information,” Cr Hudson said.

“We saw some really promising signs during the trial that this project is providing benefit to the wider suburbs.

“To be able to remove those physical barriers is so important and we are proud to keep the service going for parents and carers who have used it.”

When the Historic Vehicle Show happens at Clunes showground next month look out for the
retired truckies as they catch up with tales tall and true.

Starting the day before, the town’s attractive little showground gradually transforms as it fills to the
hilt with retro vehicles, many of them historic commercial trucks as this annual fixture is staged by the Historic Commercial Vehicle Club of Australia, Ballarat branch.

For Strathlea retired career truck driver, Barry Dodson, for example, it’s a time to show off a historic vehicle or two from his own collection, and also for some serious chin-wagging as he catches up with
others in the scene that has its own staunch following.

“This show is on the circuit,” says Barry who clocked up seven million kilometres (but who’s counting!) during his 52-year pro trucking career that started when he was a mere youngster of 20. Imagine the stories to come out of clocking up that many ks.

Yes, Barry says, there are a few. But some of them involve witnessing some things on the road that
you’d probably rather not recount.

“I’m a worn out, retired truck driver,” he laughs.

“I drove for seven years interstate, Adelaide and Brisbane, and then local, bulk grain and fertiliser.”

By “local” he means the state of Victoria and pushing a bit over the NSW border as well.

“I drove Internationals and Western Stars. The first semi I ever drove was an International. It was a C
Line Butterbox. I’ve always had Internationals and loved ‘em.”

These days Barry loves few things better than to spot some old neglected vintage vehicle and then
lovingly restore it to full gleaming glory.

He currently has a collection that features three vintage International trucks including a 1970 International C Line with V8 engine, Tasmanian oak tray and chrome features, that he loves to take
along to shows like Clunes’ as a conversation starter.

Suffice to say he’ll be heading along to the upcoming show here on Sunday March 10 to add the
beautifully restored 1970s workhorse (named Greenie) to the impressive number on display.

“This is the 13th show here and I came to the first and then joined the club,” Barry says.

Many who get along to the Clunes show also link in with other similar vehicle shows on the state’s
calendar.

“Besides this show at Clunes there’s another one at Lancefield before it and one at Kyabram after it
and people will go from one to the other over the three weeks,” Barry says.

“You do get a lot of retired truck drivers.”

Camping is encouraged at Clunes and many make a weekend of it, says the club’s Jon Paine, a Clunes
local who helps make it all happen.

“It’s a get-together for people to chat about old times and who used to work with who,” he says.

And it’s not just trucks. There’s also all sorts of collectible cars, small engines, caravans and tractors
that roll up as well, Jon says.

Vehicles that go on show must be at least 25 years old and Jon says they never quite know what’s
going to roll through the showground gates until the day arrives.

In the past, the surprise packets that have shown up have ranged from a vintage agricultural crop
header to the musician “Chooka” Parker.

“Last year there were roughly 80 trucks here on the Saturday night before the show and over the
Sunday of the show we had 180 trucks and 200 plus cars,” Barry says.

The admission fee is $10 for adults with kids under 16 free and the HVCA Ballarat branch donates
proceeds raised to good local causes and organisations, having given away $200,000 over the past
decade, Jon says.

The event is also a significant fundraiser for other local entities as well, including the Clunes and
District Agricultural Society and the local primary school which provides on-site food, alongside various food stalls that get along as well.

“It’s a time for everybody to come and enjoy themselves and relax,” Jon says.

The Historic Vehicle Show, presented by HCVCA, Ballarat branch, takes place Sunday March 10 at
Clunes Showgrounds with gates open 9am-4pm

Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad are appealing to the public to submit any CCTV or dashcam footage covering the Ballarat East, Mount Helen and Buninyong areas on Sunday February 4 in their search for missing woman Samantha Murphy.

Even if the footage does not depict Samantha, detectives are keen to review all footage in the areas between 7am and 7pm on Sunday, 4 February.

Police previously urged everyone in the Ballarat East and Mount Helen areas, particularly around the Canadian Forest, to check their CCTV for any possible sightings over the past six days however would now like to collect all footage.

The Missing Persons Squad will continue to work in conjunction with local police, as they have done since the early stages of her disappearance, as part of the effort to locate Samantha.

The specialist detectives will manage the investigation into her disappearance and will be embedded alongside local police, who will continue to lead the search when required.

The current phase of the active search for Samantha was scaled back over the weekend.

Despite extensive searches in the area over recent days, no sign of Samantha has been located.

Police continue to be in regular contact with Samantha’s family regarding the developments of the search and the status of the investigation.

The investigative stage of the investigation continues and as any new information comes to hand identifying areas of interest, the search will be scaled up.

While no sinister factors have been identified in Samantha’s disappearance at this time, there are significant concerns given the amount of time that has elapsed without her being sighted or any signs of her current whereabouts.

The 51-year-old was last seen leaving her property on Eureka Street to go for a run, about 7am Sunday, 4 February.

Police, with assistance from a number of other agencies, have conducted a search in the Canadian Forest area where Samantha was known to regularly run.

Following further information about possible run routes, on Wednesday 7 February the search moved to the nearby Mount Helen area to the east of Geelong Road.

Police have again released two images of Samantha in the hope someone recognises her and can provide any information about her movements since Sunday.

The City of Ballarat is developing a Footpath Construction Strategy to guide how it prioritises and funds where new footpaths are built with two community pop-up sessions taking place today.

Footpaths are important to the local community and play a vital role in keeping residents and visitors active, safe and connected to others and to community facilities, services, public transport and open spaces.  

Once completed, the Footpath Construction Strategy will outline a framework that prioritises where new footpaths are needed most, where sealing of existing unsealed footpaths should take place and identifying missing links in the city’s footpath network.  

The City of Ballarat currently has 844 kilometres of existing footpaths. However, there are about 600 kilometres of “missing footpaths” in the municipality which is estimated would cost about $100 million to construct.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said with an annual budget of about $900,000 for the construction of new footpaths, the city needs to prioritise which footpaths are built.  

“Footpaths are important to everyone however with limited funds, we need to prioritise where new footpaths are built,” he said.

“We encourage you to provide your feedback about how you use local footpaths and what new footpath links are important to you.

“Join the conversation and help shape where and when we build new footpaths. You can also mark on an interactive map where you think new footpaths should be constructed.”

Feedback from the community will help inform the Draft Footpath Construction Strategy. The community will be invited to provide feedback on the Draft Strategy through a second phase of community consultation.  

The council says all feedback will be considered in the development of the final Footpath Construction Strategy, which will then be presented to the council for consideration.  

Residents can provide feedback on the construction of new footpaths until 5pm, Sunday 3 March via the council’s online mysay platform.

There are also two community pop-up sessions where interested locals can share their feedback with the City of Ballarat team in person today, Saturday 10 February at:

• Ballarat Farmers Market, Zoo Drive, Lake Wendouree, from 9am-12pm and
• Skate Park Leagues Competition, Ballarat Skate Park, Main Road and Barkly Street, from 2-4pm.

The City of Ballarat’s 2023-2024 footpath construction program will build 13 footpaths, including a footpath of approximately 220 metres in Raglan Street (Miners Rest), extending from Sharpes Road to near Howe Street.

This footpath is intended to provide greater access to a nearby early learning centre and a public bus stop.

This month marks a significant milestone as the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat commemorates 20 years since its grand opening in February 2004. 

The special service to honour this occasion will be held at the memorial (Carlton Street, Lake Wendouree) from 11.30am this Sunday, 11 February 2024, to be attended by dignitaries, veterans, and the public.

The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial was inaugurated by General Peter Cosgrove AM, MC, and witnessed by more than 11,000 people, including His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC (Ret’d), the Governor General, and the Honourable Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria. 

This memorial was the first dedicated tribute in Australia to the brave ex-prisoners of war and was the culmination of more than eight years of planning.

The idea for the memorial was sparked during a Remembrance Day ceremony in 1996, where remarks were made about the need for a more fitting tribute to Australian prisoners of war and their families. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson said from those initial conversations a committee was formed and weekly meetings were held to bring the spectacular vision to life.

“The City of Ballarat is very proud of our many war memorials across the municipality, but this particular space is extra special – supported by the fact that it attracts more than 50,000 visitors each year,” he said.

“The memorial stands as a testament to the pain and suffering endured by all prisoners of war, honouring the thousands of mates left behind and recognizing the sacrifices made by families during wartime.

“It proudly displays 36,400 names of Australian ex-POWs on a 130-meter-long granite wall, serving as a powerful reminder of their courage and resilience.”

Renowned sculptor Peter Blizzard created the memorial using natural stone materials, including basalt and granite. 

The construction of this significant tribute was made possible at the time by a generous $1.1 million donation from Tattersall’s and the Estate of the late George Adams. 

Additional support from the Federal and State Governments, the City of Ballarat, and donations from various businesses and individuals raised a further $900,000.

Invitations have been distributed for the 20th anniversary event, however the community is also welcomed to attend. 

Standing room will be accessible to the general public. Shade will be limited, so intending attendees are being advised to dress appropriately for the weather, stay SunSmart, and bring umbrellas for shade if needed.

“I’d encourage residents to join us in honouring the legacy of our ex-prisoners of war at the Australian Ex-POW Memorial in Ballarat,” Cr Hudson said. 

“Together, let us remember their sacrifice and pay tribute to their enduring spirit.” 

Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives have been investigating the circumstances surrounding a fatal collision that happened in Ballarat last week.

It is believed a 75-year-old female pedestrian was struck by a vehicle in a Peel Street carpark about 6.35pm last Tuesday January 30.

The Sebastopol woman died at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle, a 77-year-old Sebastopol man, stopped at the scene.

The circumstances surrounding the crash are yet to be established and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, with footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website online.

Excitement is building ahead of the 72nd annual Ballarat Begonia Festival, which is set to draw thousands of people to the Ballarat Botanical Gardens across the upcoming Labour Day long weekend (9-11 March).

The full program of activities, entertainment, food, flowers and fun has been unveiled in recent days in the lead-up to the long-running annual attraction.

Headlining the action-packed program is the world premiere of a new show called ‘These Things’ by performing artists SWAY (pictured above).

Festival-goers will be invited to immerse themselves in a sensory experience where music, dance and circus acts transport viewers to a world where the boundaries between reality and fantasy are blurred.

The company’s new production will see the performers swing, spin and bend atop tall poles adorned with begonias, entertaining audiences on the main lawn.

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Des Hudson described the festival as a Ballarat institution that “just seems to get better and better each year”.

The Ballarat Begonia Festival’s full program is now available online.

Detectives from Taskforce Lunar are investigating following a suspicious fire that broke out in Bakery Hill, Ballarat, last Thursday morning.

The incident occurred at a tobacco store on Little Bridge Street just before 4am on Thursday, 1 February.

Nobody was inside the premises at the time but the store sustained significant damage.

A burnt-out car was located on Boundary Road in Brown Hill just before 4am on the same day.

Detectives are investigating whether it is linked to the Bakery Hill tobacco store fire.

Investigators are treating the fire as a targeted attack and said they would look at any possible links to other recent fires.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the fire or who may have CCTV or dash-cam footage.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers website online.

More than 700 people have provided their feedback to help develop the City of Ballarat’s new Open Space Strategy.  

It represents the first stage of a collaborative approach to guide how Ballarat’s open spaces will look in the city over the next 10 years.  

The focus of the consultation stage was to understand how Ballarat uses open space and determine the community’s key priorities for open spaces, while also identifying some potential risks to open space.

The first round of feedback is now being analysed by the City of Ballarat and it is expected that a draft Strategy will be available for review and a second round of consultation in early April 2024.  

The first round of community feedback showed that people rank biodiversity and trees as one of the highest priorities in Ballarat’s open spaces.  

Following that, the community said accessibility and inclusion were important, followed by appropriate infrastructure, paths and trails, play spaces and mitigating climate change.  

The community’s feedback raised concerns about the lack of biodiversity in Ballarat’s open spaces, followed by population pressures, upkeep of open spaces and maintenance, as well as access to walking and cycling paths.  

There were more than twenty reasons people visited open spaces in Ballarat, the top reasons are:

• To observe and be in nature  
• To undertake casual exercise  
• To spend time with family and friends  
• To use the play spaces with children  
• Cycling and mountain biking.  

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said it’s encouraging to see so many people sharing their views on the city’s open spaces.  

“The Open Space Strategy will guide us in developing parks and reserves for our community for the next ten years, it’s important it reflects the Ballarat’s community’s needs,” he said.  

“We look forward to the next stage of the consultation, to work with specific user groups to co-design and develop the strategy.”  

The next step will be to present a draft Open Space Strategy to the community and hold focused collaborative co-design sessions with specific user groups, to enable completion of the strategy.

The strategy will provide guidance to the City of Ballarat on where to locate different types of parks, reserves and open spaces, and what activities and equipment are needed in the spaces, as well as providing guidance on how the parks can suit the varying needs of the Ballarat community.  

EV drivers have been delighted to see Creswick’s 50kW fast charge station is finally back online.

CCTV surveillance equipment to protect the public Chargefox charge station was installed last month after the new and much anticipated charge point was taken offline after it was vandalised last August.

In recent days the station was reactivated and was quickly pressed into use by EV drivers keen to get a top-up charge. Its repair and re-activation was swiftly publicised on the online PlugShare platform from January 17.

With an ever-increasing number of motorists planning to make their next vehicle purchase an EV, first-hand experience of owning and using an electric vehicle is now set to be the focus of discussion by a knowledgeable panel of speakers at the free community ‘Green Drinks’ event happening Thursday, February 15 at Ballarat’s Bunch of Grapes Hotel.

Set to start from 6.30pm and the first talk for Green Drinks in 2024, the panel discussion will be led by BREAZE (Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions) president Campbell Mercer with four local EV owners sharing their experiences.

The panel will include: Gavin Cerini – BYD Atto 3; Paul Duggan -Tesla 3; Merle Hathaway – Mini EV; and Pat Hockey – Nissan Leaf.

The free community discussion is timed to lead into Buninyong’s Smart Living Expo on Sunday, February 25 from 10am to 3.30pm at Royal Park, Buninyong.

In 2023 Campbell Mercer coordinated the Good Car Company’s Show & Shine event in Ballarat, offering locals a chance to check out and test drive a range of second-hand EVs.

The number of new EV sales doubled in Australia over the past year, which means there will be more second-hand EVs coming on-stream, making the transition more affordable, organisers of the upcoming Green Drinks event say.

They say those who are keen to learn more about EVs are welcome to attend with questions ready to put to the panel on Thursday, February 15. Tickets: TryBooking

Words & Image: Eve Lamb

First-hand experience of owning and using an electric vehicle will be the focus of discussion by a knowledgeable panel of speakers at the free community ‘Green Drinks’ event coming up Thursday, February 15 at Ballarat’s Bunch of Grapes Hotel.

Set to get started from 6.30pm, the first talk for Green Drinks in 2024 will be a panel discussion led by BREAZE (Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions) President, Campbell Mercer, with four local EV owners.

The panel will include: Gavin Cerini – BYD Atto 3; Paul Duggan -Tesla 3; Merle Hathaway – Mini EV; and Pat Hockey – Nissan Leaf.

The free community discussion is timed to lead into Buninyong’s Smart Living Expo on Sunday 25 February 10 am – 3:30 pm at Royal Park Buninyong, which also features local EV owners. 

In 2023 Campbell coordinated the Good Car Company’s Show & Shine event in Ballarat, which gave locals a chance to check out and test drive a range of second hand EVs.

The number of new EV sales doubled in Australia over the last year, which means there will be more second hand EVs coming on-stream, making the transition more affordable, organisers of the upcoming Green Drinks event say.

They say those who are interested are welcome to get along with questions to put to the panel on Thursday 15th February and take the opportunity to find out what owning an EV is like at first hand.

The Green Drinks event happens 6.30pm-8pm at the Bunch of Grapes Hotel in Pleasant Street, Ballarat. It is a freebook event through TryBooking online.

The next stage of a shared path along the busy Glenelg Highway in Ballarat will soon begin with designs released for tender last week.  

A contractor is now being sought to provide safe off-road riding along the Glenelg Highway / Hertford Street from the Midland Highway (Albert Street) to Ballarat’s Phoenix College.

It will provide a safe way for students to access Phoenix College and kindergarten.  

The path will be a wide shared user path, to allow for pedestrians and cyclists to use it, as well as families with prams, and more.  

The path will consist of shared user paths in some sections and separated bike paths where the opportunity arises. Raised crossings across side streets will allow safer access to schools, shops and services for all pedestrians.

The construction of Stage 1, from Midland Highway (Albert Street) to Phoenix College is funded from the State Government’s Spotlight on Sebastopol Project.  

The aim of this project is to:  

• Facilitate active transport for commuters and students with safe, raised crossings for Phoenix College.
• Create a safe, comfortable riding and walking path for recreation with links to the Yarrowee River Trail.  
• Increase pedestrian and cyclist safety through a dedicated path and raised crossings at intersections.
• Preserve existing healthy trees through pruning and mulching.
• Increase provision of greening and natural shade through tree planting.

Existing healthy trees will be retained and new opportunities for additional tree planting identified.  

Rest points are proposed along the path with seating, bins and cycling infrastructure like hoops and bike repair stations.  

There was a community drop-in session at Phoenix College held late 2023 to view the proposed designs and discuss the project.  

Feedback from this session and the online survey was predominantly around the importance of trees for shade along the route, with strong overall support for this connecting path to be constructed.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Des Hudson said this project is committed to increasing the safety of people involved in active transport in Ballarat.

“We want to continue to promote the benefits of cycling, walking and running across Ballarat, for our residents to be fit and healthy and to reap the environmental benefits,” he said.  

“We thank the community for their input into these deigns and look forward to seeing many people using these paths to get to and from school, exercising and generally getting from A to B.”

The City of Ballarat is committed to transitioning Ballarat towards a more sustainable future and encouraging active transport, specifically Goal two in the City of Ballarat Council Plan 2021 – 2025, a healthy, connected and inclusive community.

Planning is underway for key connections on;

• Trails and Connections – Sutton Street connecting Victoria Park and Morshead Park.
• Trails and Connections – Whitelaw Avenue from Sutton Street to Doug Dean Reserve.  
• Grenville Street North, from Mair Street to Curtis Street.  
• Yarra River Places and Connections from Nicholson Street to Nolan Street and Anderson Street West
• Macarthur Street, Ballarat Central  
• Forest Street, Wendouree  
• Woowookarung Trail via Callow Street and Pennyweight Gully  
• Yarrowee River to the Bunny Trail Connection via Queen Street North  

Minister for Regional Development Gayle Tierney: “Whether it’s students commuting to school or families going to local shops and services, nothing is more important than the safety of our community members.”

“This shared pathway will assist with just that and we’re proud to see this project come to life.”