The Andrews Labor Government is improving mobile connectivity in western Victoria with a new mobile tower and upgrades to existing infrastructure. Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford today announced partnerships with Optus and TPG Telecom to deliver a new mobile tower and upgrade five existing towers from 4G to 5G through the Labor Government’s Connecting Victoria program.
The Ballarat Regional Tennis Centre is game, set, and match ready to serve up even more tennis day and night thanks to new court lighting at the popular venue. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today officially opened lighting upgrades at the centre and inspected the progress of works on six new Hot Shot courts, made possible by a more than $1 million investment from the Victorian Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Stimulus Program.
Ballarat’s Tramway Museum is set to deliver better and more accessible experience, thanks to a $200,000 investment from the Andrews Labor Government. The Member for Wendouree, Ms Juliana Addison MP today announced funding for upgrades at the museum, through the government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund.
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering greater water security to Ballarat by supporting an expansion of the city’s recycled water network. As part of the Integrated Water Management project we’re investing $1 million towards upgrading the capacity of the Ballarat North Water Reclamation Plant and recycled water pump station to deliver additional recycled water for irrigating recreational spaces in Ballarat.
The Andrews Labor Government is investing more than $7.5 million into Victorian not-for-profit organisations to deliver innovative educational programs that enrich the learning experience of students across the state. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced the Art Gallery of Ballarat is among almost 80 organisations which will receive a share of the funding from Victorian Government’s Strategic Partnerships Program.
The Andrews Labor Government is helping families get their kids into early childhood learning by creating more three-and four-year-old kindergarten places across Victoria. Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt and Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today announced a $2.25 million Building Blocks capacity building stream grant for the City of Ballarat to create three kinder rooms at a brand new Alfredton (Ballymanus) Community Hub.
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison, today joined with Deputy Mayor Cr Amy Johnson to announce that City of Ballarat was successful in their grant application to develop a new sensory friendly play zone at Ballarat’s Victoria Park Inclusive Play Space.
Ballarat will benefit from state-of-the-art hospital services as the massive hospital redevelopment starts to take shape. Minister for Health Martin Foley today unveiled a first look at the Ballarat Base Hospital’s new support services building and central energy plant which forms part of the second stage of the $541.6 million redevelopment.
The Andrews Labor Government is giving young lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) Victorians access to additional wellbeing support services located at safe spaces in western Victoria. Minister for Equality Martin Foley today met with young LGBTIQ+ Victorians who will benefit from $3.2 million in funding in the Victorian Budget 2022-23 to support the design and delivery of LGBTIQ+ safe space services.
A community-owned and led early learning centre embracing and embedding Aboriginal perspective into its service is now open to families living in Sebastopol, ensuring more local kindergarten places thanks to an Andrews Labor Government investment. Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle announced the new Yirram Burron centre open, supporting Ballarat’s growing Aboriginal community and combatting existing barriers the community has faced in getting equal access to early childhood education and care.
Casual and contract workers in Ballarat and Western Victoria are being encouraged to sign up to the Andrews Labor Government’s Sick Pay Guarantee before flu season takes hold – giving them a safety net if they become sick and miss work or need to care for a loved one. Minister for Workplace Safety Ingrid Stitt today visited Federation University to encourage more people to sign up to the Sick Pay Guarantee and to meet with casual workers who are already benefitting from the program.
The Andrews Labor Government is supporting family-owned agriculture manufacturing business Harwood Grains to create jobs and expand its oat dehulling facility in Ballarat. Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas today visited Harwood Grain’s Ballarat headquarters to announce funding through the Regional Jobs Fund, which is enabling the company to consolidate its facility into one site and invest in new production line equipment.
The Andrews Labor Government is supporting Ballarat to position itself as a must-visit craft and small batch drink destination with a new hub for distilling and brewing. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula today announced a $450,000 investment from the Labor Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund to create the new hub – which will be a tourism drawcard for the region while creating more jobs.
A major investment by one of the largest food manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand is creating a jobs boost in Ballarat, thanks to backing from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula today announced the Labor Government’s support for George Weston Foods’ new Mauri flour mill in Ballarat and production expansion across regional Victoria.
Sovereign Hill will soon boast new cultural and event spaces, generating jobs and attracting more visitors, thanks to a $6 million investment from the Andrews Labor Government. Minster for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula visited the historic Ballarat tourist attraction today to announce the upgrade, funded from the Labor Government’s Regional Tourism Investment Fund.
An Australian consulting giant will establish a new office in Ballarat, creating up to 200 jobs in the important regional centre, backed by support from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Economic Development Tim Pallas today announced the establishment of the Ernst & Young (EY) Service Delivery Centre at the Federation University Ballarat Tech Park in Mt Helen.
The Andrews Labor Government is serving up more jobs supporting hospitality venues and tourism in regional Victoria. Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford today announced a $6 million initiative which will provide 240 jobseekers with hospitality and tourism traineeships to help address workforce shortages across the state.
The Andrews Labor Government is delivering a record investment in the welfare of pets in Ballarat with $11.5 million from the Victorian Budget 2022/23 for a new purpose-built animal shelter.