The Andrews Labor Government is continuing to support Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative with the infrastructure it needs to grow and thrive. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced three separate grants for BADAC to support the organisation’s work with local Aboriginal artists and community.
Victoria’s strong economy is continuing to drive a dynamic labour market with the regional unemployment rate at a near all-time record low – and the lowest of all the states. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures released this week show that the regional unemployment rate is 2.9 per cent, while the national rate sits at 3.1 per cent.
Ballarat will welcome visitors from near and far in 2023 for the 10th anniversary of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale with new support from the Andrews Labor Government. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced that the Ballarat International Foto Biennale is a successful funding recipient from the Andrews Government’s $20 million Regional Events Fund.
Works will begin on lighting up Ballarat’s iconic Lake Wendouree so locals can enjoy the precinct for more hours of the day, all year round thanks to support from the Andrews Labor Government.
New mums and dads across Ballarat will soon have better access to early parenting support in a state-of-the-art facility, with a site selected and works starting for the new multi-million-dollar Early Parenting Centre in Ballarat. Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today turned the first sod and released the first designs of the new centre at 10 Fawcett Rd, Lucas.
The new trains will be manufactured in Dandenong and assembled in Alstom’s Ballarat factory later this year, bolstering the Labor Government’s commitment to support jobs across our state and continue the pipeline of local manufacturing.
Ballarat is set to enjoy a a four-day whole-of-community Pride festival of LGBTIQA+ events this Summer as part of Victoria’s Pride – a statewide celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTQIA+) communities.M ember for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced that Ballarat’s Frolic Festival will receive a $10,000 grant to support the running of the 2023 Frolic Festival program.
The VRI Delacombe Cricket Club can now ramp up its training and development thanks to a new cricket training facility at its home ground at Doug Dean Reserve in Delacombe. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today officially opened the new training facility, made possible by a $100,000 investment from the Victorian Government’s Community Cricket Program.
The Andrews Labor Government is investing to make the state more inclusive for all Victorians, making popular tourist destinations and community facilities more accessible for people with disability. Today Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison announced that Ballarat Group Training at Barkly Square will receive a grant $100,000 as part of the Labor Government’s Changing Places and Universal Design grants program, aimed at making it easier for all Victorians to take part in community and social activities.
The Andrews Labor Government is helping Ballarat kindergartens to upgrade and improve their centres, giving every Victorian child the best start to life. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle today announced that two Ballarat Kinders have joined the ranks of over 100 other Early Childhood services to benefit from the Building Blocks Improvement grant program.
Ballarat is in for another gold rush as preparations get underway for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, including an up to $150 million upgrade to Eureka Stadium thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
More students will be able to catch a school bus next year as the Andrews Labor Government rolls out the first in a suite of additional school bus services across the state, including Ballarat. A new school bus service being introduced in 2023 will link Cardigan Village and Lucas with Lucas Primary School and Ballarat High School for the first-time making access to school easier for primary and secondary-aged students in these growing areas.
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering hundreds of new homes across regional Victoria, ensuring more Victorians have the security and stability of a home and creating thousands of new jobs. Minister for Housing Danny Pearson today announced $219 million in grants from the Social Housing Growth Fund to build social housing across regional Victoria – providing a stable foundation for thousands of Victorians to build their lives.
The Andrews Labor Government is looking at more ways to boost employment opportunities in the Central Highlands, bringing together businesses, employers and community leaders. A forum held in Ballarat today and hosted by Jobs Victoria examined ways the Labor Government, local businesses and communities can work together to identify opportunities and develop new approaches to address workforce challenges.
Early works are now underway to build an Intermodal Freight Hub at the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ). The works will see five serviced lots built at the site – in preparation for major construction to take place on the freight hub next year.
Grampians Health Ballarat is driving environmental awareness in regional Victoria by taking delivery of two State Government fleet battery electric vehicles. The zero-emission Hyundai Kona Electric cars will cover a lot of ground across the Ballarat region, supporting the Government’s charge towards a state-wide net zero emissions target by 2050.
The Andrews Labor Government has unveiled final designs for the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment, which will deliver local families world-class health services. Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today revealed the new designs of the multi-level tower that will house a new emergency department, a women and children’s hub, a state-of-the-art theatre suite and an extra 100 inpatient and short-stay beds.
Highly-skilled teachers and school leaders in Ballarat are another step closer to accessing world-class professional learning opportunities, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Education Natalie Hutchins today announced the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (the Academy) will be built on Camp Street in the Ballarat Regional Centre.