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Wendouree West: Program in new phaseWENDOUREE West - the journey continues.Eight years after the Wendouree West Community Renewal program started, residents are looking to the next chapter. Some of the achievements of the project so far include the construction of the Wendouree West community Learning Hub, the redevelopment of Weeramar Park and the Violet Grove shopping strip, 800 housing upgrades, a new train station and the creation of hundreds of jobs. Yesterday Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the government would continue to invest in the town, which he said had become internationally renowned for its achievements. "Communities like this have been really passed by by governments in the past," he said. "It's really easy for governments to say they will build a building, but what we're really investing in here is the physical infrastructure and the people. "Social inclusion is about ensuring everyone gets a go in the community, it's about making sure no one in Wendouree West gets left behind." City of Ballarat mayor Cr Judy Verlin said what was now critical was how to take the project on and "imbed it in the community". Through a Neighbourhood Alliance Agreement signed yesterday, the community will develop an action plan for the next five years. It will focus on addressing mental health issues, employability, streetscape improvements, environmentally-sustainable upgrades to homes and an emphasis on reducing domestic violence and promoting family harmony. "Today marks the beginning of the next chapter that will mean even greater improvements to local services and community infrastructure to benefit local residents," Mr Wynne said. Loving farewell for Mick's mumMARIE Malthouse left behind a legacy of patience and enduring love.The mother of Collingwood Football Club coach Mick Malthouse died earlier this week at the Gandarra Palliative Care Unit. A service was held yesterday at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in Wendouree and was packed with old friends, relatives, and supporters of the Collingwood Football Club including players and president Eddie McGuire. Speaking about his mother at the funeral, Mick Malthouse recalled her unconditional love for her family. "If she taught us two things, it was patience and tolerance," he said. "I never remember my mother being angry. "She'd get disappointed, and that was enough." He also spoke about the things she wasn't too fond of. "She hated ginger cats, lillies - they reminded her of death - and Sheedy when Essendon beat us," Malthouse said, laughing. "And she was a shocking cook, which unfortunately she passed on to her children." Mick Malthouse's daughter and television sports reporter, Christi, read a poem she had written for her grandma, which she read valiantly before choking up during the final lines. Mrs Malthouse was married to Raymond for 55 years before he died two years ago. They had two children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. "She just loved everyone and anyone she touched loved her," Mick Malthouse said. "One enduring thing she's left us is the ability to love our kids. "I just can't believe how much she loved us." Construction of Ballarat Solar Park beginsCONSTRUCTION of the Ballarat Solar Park has begun. The first sod of soil for the 300kW park was turned at the Ballarat Airport this morning. The park, a showcase feature of the $42 million Central Victoria Solar City project, will generate enough power to meet the needs of 150 households. It is expected the park and its 1760 photovoltaic panels will produce more than 450 megawatt hours of power annually. When the park starts producing power, households will be able to buy the renewable energy generated by the solar panels. Ballarat MHR Catherine King waved a flag to mark the beginning of construction while an excavator turned the first sod of soil at the one hectare site this morning. Origin Energy will build the park, one of two in the Central Victorian Solar City. The other is located in Bendigo. Residents invited to be part of stationTHE community is being invited to have its say on a public art project at the Wendouree Train Station. The State Government has engaged Ballarat company Ratartat and Yuille Park Community College to develop and design a mural to front the station, which is set to open in the coming months. "We are asking the community to submit ideas of what they want to see on their mural," Ballarat West MLA Karen Overington said. "Perhaps an iconic personality, a local attraction or even a picture of their family pet." Ratartat and the college's students will incorporate the submissions into the mural's final design, which will have an overall public transport theme. Ratartat's Geoff Bonney said the mural would be a genuine community-developed piece. "We're here to guide the students in the design and production of this piece of art," Mr Bonney said. "The end result will ultimately be their ideas, including how they decide to weave in submissions from the community into the design." College principal Clete Paige said the mural was a "fantastic" project for the school to be involved with. "It gives them (the students) a sense of pride, local ownership and community spirit," Mr Paige said. Submission forms are available from the Ballarat Train Station, the Ballarat Town Hall and the Department of Transport's regional office. Submissions close on Friday. 25th April 2009 Fireworks display means cracking fun on Australia DayBALLARAT's popular Australia Day fireworks will go ahead at Lake Wendouree despite a lack of water. But there will be a new launch site due to the growth of fairy grass on the lake's northern side. Traditionally, the fireworks, run by 3BA, have been launched from Durham Point. This year, they will be launched at the finish of the rowing course, next to the Olympic Rings on the south-west corner of the lake. 3BA general manager John Fitzgibbon said organisers were sensitive to the state of Lake Wendouree. A series of meetings between 3BA, the City of Ballarat, Country Fire Authority and Department of Sustainability and Environment had been held and a contingency plan created to allow the event to proceed, he said. "Our goal is to not only provide a visually stunning show for the people of Ballarat, but to do so without any effect on Lake Wendouree and its surrounds," Mr Fitzgibbon said. "Safety is absolutely paramount and with the assistance of the City of Ballarat, CFA and DSE we are pleased we can once again provide the finale to Australia Day celebrations." Thousands of people flock to the shores of the lake for the spectacular fireworks display _ a feature of Ballarat's Australia Day celebrations for almost 30 years. Mr Fitzgibbon said plans for this year's Skyworks were progressing well. A number of new fireworks from Japan would be incorporated into the show, which would be set to music broadcast on 3BA, he said. "With less than three weeks to make final preparations we will move forward at full speed," he said. Mr Fitzgibbon said he was pleased with the new launch site and encouraged people who plan on attending the show to avoid walking on the lake. "The new launch satisfies all our requirements in particular providing a natural exclusion zone," he said. "Again we urge everybody to respect Lake Wendouree and to avoid walking on the dry lake bed on Australia Day." Lake could be brimming two years earlyWATER from Ballarat Goldfields could help see Lake Wendouree full by 2010, two years ahead of schedule. The initial project announced earlier this year to send wastewater from Ballarat Goldfields to the city has been enhanced after further discussions between the City of Ballarat, Lihir Gold and the State Government. Council now wants to use some of the water in Ballarat's CBD on some Sturt St garden areas and other recreation reserves. City of Ballarat sustainability director Ian Rossiter said council and Lihir, the owner of Ballarat Goldfields, had been discussing potential funding for the scheme. "The initial plan was to see how the water, available from Ballarat Goldfields, might be transported to Lake Wendouree in a pipeline," he said. "Now we're looking to see if there is sufficient water for the Sturt St gardens to ensure the longevity of the boulevard-style trees and supporting some grass areas." The project would consist of a 5.2km pipeline of 150mm in diameter between Ballarat Goldfields and the lake. Mr Rossiter said it was anticipated between 500 and 650 megalitres of wastewater would be available, per annum. "This would fast-track the refilling to 2010," he said. Council has budgeted $150,000
towards the project as part of its 2008/09 budget and is seeking State
Government funding towards the project's current $1.26 million cost.
Additional funding of $1,061,358.00 for the
development of stage 2 of the Wendouree West Educational Precinct from the
Community Facilities Fund was announced to the Wendouree West Community by
Karen Overington MLA Member for Ballarat West on Friday, 7th October,
2005.
Malthouse returns to
old stomping grounds
The Ballarat City Council played a major role in the redesign and construction of the area. The Wendouree West community would like to acknowledge and thank the Council for their dedication and hard work on this project. There are many other organisations that contributed to the working bee and again the community is grateful to these organisations. Thanks also to the wonderful residents who turned up and helped out. You showed much enthusiasm and worked hard, it was greatly appreciated.
BMX Track update
BMX Track... The community consultation has
finally taken place and the works are due to begin after Easter. There has been
some wonderful input into the design by the young people of the area and they
have worked really hard to ensure a track that is safe and suitable for all to
use. The old BMX Track will stay in place will stay in place until the new one
is opened. For security reasons, the track will be relocated the front of the
reserve. It is hoped the track will be operational by the end of May.
The launch was a result of many months of hard
work for all who help put together and manage the Gateway and all should be
congratulated on quality of the website.
The Wendouree West Community Gateway will provide
access for residents on a wide range of topics. It is a valuable tool for
residents enabling the Wendouree West community to showcase the community
renewal process and provide relevant and timely information online. Our team of volunteers (all residents of
Wendouree West) have been working with the Gateway Coordinator and spent the
recent months researching and gathering content from the Internet and designing
and developing the many pages that will be a part of the completed Wendouree
West Community Gateway. Community Renewal After much discussion and
planning, we decided the only way forward is by involving more residents. We
gave every member of the community the opportunity to become involved. It’s
important we all have a say in determining our future and that of the community.
Residents expressing an
interest, or willingness to be involved were
invited to attend a meeting on Monday 25th August at Grevillea Park Primary
School. At the meeting we talked through the restructure, explained roles
of resident representatives and called for nominations for these positions in
each committee. Voting was done by a secret ballot. Newly formed committees met
in early September. |
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