Committee For Ballarat

I love this time of year at Committee. Our annual Action Plan Workshop highlights what we’re capable of achieving as a community when we work together.

It’s when our members come together to look at the big picture issues for our city and region. They bring collective knowledge; they bring a huge range of skills and expertise; and mostly they bring vision and energy. They leave their personal businesses at the door and roll up their sleeves to help identify the issues and find solutions. It’s our members who tell us what areas they would like Committee to focus on.

We rely on this buy-in, engagement and expertise. It’s vital that our agenda is 100% driven by our members… it’s what Committee is all about.

David Canny (Red Lion) sums up perfectly how being a member gives you a voice in creating a strong future for our region…

“If you’re involved in business and realise the importance of all sectors working together to make things happen, then you become a member of the Committee. You can sit on your hands and be part of the problem or join the Committee to be part of the solution.”

The process of canvassing our members on an annual basis is as old as the Committee itself and has led to our work on issues vital to Ballarat’s strong future such as community leadership, employment growth, empowerment for young adults, and secure, sustainable water solutions, to name a few.

It’s a right and privilege of membership to have your voice heard and we’d love all of our members to help decide which issues Committee will champion in 2013 and beyond. This year this process will kick off with a breakfast workshop, see details here

If you’re not already a member and would like to talk to someone about it, please call us on 5332 1240.

Here’s a reminder on what we are currently working together to achieve:

Committee’s current projects

• BWGZ (Ballarat West Growth Zone): driving the agenda for jobs and economic growth in our region
• Sustainable Living: finding innovative and sustainable solutions to meet our region’s growing demand for water and energy resources
• FastTrack Ballarat: working to secure a more frequent, more reliable and faster commuter rail service from Ballarat to Melbourne with better mobile coverage
• MeT (Maximising eHealth Technology): improving health outcomes and supporting patients across our region using eHealth technology
• RAHP (Revitalising the ACU-Hospitals-Lake Wendouree Precinct): attracting high-quality professionals in health and education to work and live in our region

Committee’s current programs

• LBWR (Leadership Ballarat & Western Region): inspiring people to show leadership to create a sustainable and connected community and a positive future across our region
• YAE (Young Adult Empowerment): promoting empowerment and employment among our region’s young people

We’d love you to be part of the solution.

Adele Nairn
Membership and Communications, Committee for Ballarat

Adele has worked at Committee since (almost!) the very beginning. She believes passionately that the strength of Committee is its members and their collective contribution.

Committee for Ballarat’s focus is on making Ballarat and region a better place to live. Sometimes, to achieve what we want to at a local level, we need to think, plan and act as part of a bigger network.

I recently attended the Committees for Cities & Regions forum with Committee for Ballarat Chair Judy Verlin in Sydney. As a member of ‘Committees for Cities & Regions’, we are part of a network of like-minded organisations. Working together gives us greater influence at state and national level so we can achieve sustainable, responsible and dynamic development of all of our cities and regions. With predicted population growth confirmed we can’t continue to say that we can’t afford to build it.

Being part of this bigger network strengthens Committee for Ballarat’s capacity to build a strong social and economic future for our region in three key ways…

1. Thinking: our role as thought leaders

As a network of organisations independent of the political cycle, we play a vital role in advocating for visionary leadership and good governance from all levels of government and contributing to the strategic thinking needed to explore solutions to issues around future growth.

We will advocate for further research in critical areas such as population, infrastructure, environment, business, culture and lifestyle. We will also be developing a position paper on growth that focuses on major capital cities and regional cities, highlighting the intrinsic links.

2. Planning: advocating for long-term planning for future growth

Planning for and investing in infrastructure to connect our cities and regions is a high priority for us.

It’s vital that strategic planning goes beyond election cycles. Improving the planning processes will ensure successive governments invest in clearly conceived projects in our cities and regions for the long term.

We strongly advocate for the three tiers of government to work together and to engage businesses and communities in the planning process, and we continue to advocate for visionary leadership to build critical infrastructure.

Currently 95% of all major infrastructure projects being facilitated by Infrastructure Australia are in the transport and freight/logistics sectors. This clearly highlights the need for a long-term planning approach in this area.

We will advocate for solutions, such as Infrastructure Australia looking at global capital city infrastructure to ensure good rail, road and freight/transport linkages between and within our capital cities to future-proof development.

We believe that improvement is needed in long-term planning on key infrastructure projects such as public transport, where current business models fail to capture non-financial benefits to cities and regional communities. There needs to be a better understanding of urban planning dynamics and the integration of key infrastructure projects.

We also believe that improvement is needed in the current framework for investing in infrastructure, such as strong business cases to back major infrastructure projects and potentially attract Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) and international investment.

3. Acting: driving social and economic growth for our region

A key focus for us in Victoria will be to improve the connectivity of our region. However regional transport connections are only effective if capital city infrastructure allows them to operate efficiently.

Committee for Ballarat will work collaboratively with Committees for Melbourne, Geelong, Gippsland and Wyndham on key research to support our advocacy for further investment in major infrastructure projects that will deliver this key objective.

John Kilgour, CEO Committee for Ballarat

Committees for Cities & Regions is made up of 11 ‘Committees for’ that operate within their particular city or region to enhance their economic, social, cultural and environmental development.

Michael Krieg discusses health care in Ballarat - click here to view clip 

Michael Krieg, CEO of St John of God Hospital discusses health care in Ballarat at our ‘Imagine Ballarat 2030′ Round Table Dinner on Thursday 6 September.

Health is one Committee for Ballarat’s six strategic drivers. Our objective is to create innovative ways to deliver health services to our growing regional community.

Health initiatives include:

RAHP (Revitalising the ACU-Hospitals-Lake Wendouree Precinct)
Develop this precinct as a great place to live and work at help attract and keep medical and education professionals. You can read more about this project here

Aged Care
Promote an aged care service that offers choice in affordability and accessibility.

I recently attended the 2012 VECCI Regional Business Convention with Committee Chair Judy Verlin.

Business leaders from across Victoria came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities for regional Victorian businesses to grow and prosper over the long term.

Delegates from each region had the chance to present what their region can bring to the growth of Victoria as well as the support needed to achieve their full potential.

Judy Verlin, representing Committee, and Damien Butler, representing VECCI, spoke passionately to delegates and government representatives about the opportunities we have in the Ballarat region due to an accelerated population growth trajectory (the Premier and Leader of the Opposition also addressed the convention).

Judy emphasised the need to seize opportunities and to adopt longer term policy and planning to ensure we are not driven by electoral cycles.

She talked about Ballarat’s key strengths:

• Space and Amenity – affordable housing and plenty of residential supply coming on tap in the Ballarat West Growth Zone
• Provision and support for commercial and industrial growth in the Ballarat West Employment Zone
• Infrastructure – excellent education and health facilities
• Innovation – manufacturing, education, renewable energy and sustainability

Judy challenged government to address current barriers and help implement major regional projects such as:

• Early activation of the Ballarat West Employment Zone
• Development of a Major Cultural, Sports and Entertainment Precinct at North Ballarat
• Delivery of FastTrack Ballarat to improve connected and coordinated transport links for the region

John Kilgour
CEO – Committee for Ballarat

With the upcoming council elections, the Ballarat community has the opportunity to elect candidates who will provide council with a mandate to deliver major projects that will significantly contribute to the social and economic growth of our region.

Committee for Ballarat is a visionary membership body with representation across all business sectors as well as government and non-government organisations, including not-for-profits. We are one of the few organisations that is staunchly non-party political and truly focuses on the longer-term future of the region. This has been a big attraction for members over our 10-year history.

We are proud that our agenda is 100% driven by members. We provide a distinctive voice right across the region due to our significant reach and influence.

With a projected population growth of 30,000 in our region over the next 15 years, Committee’s work is strongly directed to driving and safeguarding our future prosperity and sustainability. Unashamedly, we believe sustainable economic prosperity is the driver of the lifestyle we all wish to continue enjoying in this great city and region.

Committee’s 2012/13 Action Plan provides the strategic framework for delivering this aspiration. We provide thought leadership and advocacy for key projects that will enable an improved quality of life.

Our key projects are centred on Sustainability, Business, Health, Community, Education and Connectivity. They include the Ballarat West Growth (BWGZ) and Employment Zones (BWEZ), the Major Events Precinct and Revitalising the CBD.

These essential urban growth zone developments will provide new infrastructure for employment and business growth.

“We are promoting regional developments that will facilitate business and community wellbeing through targeted investment and sustainable employment.”

Ballarat’s population is on a strong growth trajectory with annual growth of ~ 2.0% being well above state projections, which are predicted to be 1.5% for the next 10 years (according to ABS statistics for the past two years).

Analysis completed by Committee in 2011  shows that 1000 new jobs must be created in Ballarat each year to achieve and maintain a 5% unemployment level. If the population growth rate accelerates even stronger growth in jobs and economic activity will be needed.

The BWEZ has been identified as the best, most logical location for the region’s next generation of well-serviced industrial land. The BWEZ will deliver up to 9,200 jobs in the near- and mid-term, generate $3.9 billion in economic output and provide net (value-added) returns of $1.4 billion. Committee, in collaboration with City of Ballarat, has successfully lobbied for state funding for the early completion of the BWEZ and associated infrastructure. $38 million has been secured to construct Stage 1 of the Western Link Road which has a target completion date of November 2014.

“We are promoting Ballarat as a leader and centre of excellence across all community and business sectors.”

Ballarat is known as the “Capital of Western Victoria” and is one of the fastest growing regional centres in Australia. Ballarat is in an excellent position to seize the opportunity presented by this growth and develop as a leader and centre of excellence across all community and business sectors.

We also have a unique opportunity to shape what we want Ballarat to look like in the future. Two of our key projects focus on this. They will each require courageous and visionary leadership, but the long-term benefits cannot be overstated.

The Revitalising the CBD project gives us the chance to influence strategic planning and development that, while respecting our proud cultural heritage, aspires to deliver a thriving retail, commercial, educational and cultural precinct.

The Major Events Precinct project offers us the opportunity to develop and deliver a major cultural, sports and events precinct in Ballarat that will bring significant benefits for everyone in our regional community.

“It’s time for your say.”

Committee seeks to achieve economic wellbeing across our region so that everyone can enjoy the benefits of social and community cohesion, both now and long into the future. We believe the best way to deliver this is through strong partnerships. In particular, we aim to continue working in close collaboration with City of Ballarat and municipalities across the region as well as state and federal governments.

We believe it is critically important to maintain traction on key infrastructure projects across the region. You can make sure of this by supporting local government candidates who endorse the issues being championed in the interest of Ballarat and its region.

John Kilgour, CEO of Committee for Ballarat

The following is the second in a series of six posts by CEO John Kilgour, explaining each of the six strategic directions that will drive Committee for Ballarat’s Action Plan 2012/13.

Following the launch of our Action Plan, I have attended a number of sessions to understand the opportunities created by the NBN roll out. I learnt very quickly that NBN is just an enabler … it is what we do with it and how it is applied that will be the catalyst for change.

The health sector is one that will benefit enormously and see significant transformation through virtual consultations.  Imagine doctors, nurses and specialists conducting Tele-health sessions with patients and carers in remote regional communities as if they were there.  e-health and the benefits delivered in the primary care and aged care sectors, is clearly on Committees agenda.

An innovative approach that allows GP’s, nurses, specialists and patients to connect in a collaborative video consultation, without the leaving their aged care facility or home, will alleviate pressure on existing our hospitals whilst delivering significant savings in primary care costs.

Thanks,

John

The following post is one of a series of six posts by CEO John Kilgour, explaining each of the six strategic directions that will drive Committee for Ballarat’s Action Plan 2012/13.

Our objective for Sustainability is to provide thought leadership and advocacy that connects us with our environment and inspire us to live sustainably.  Everyone thinks of the environment when we say “sustainability” but what about societal impact and the economy?  What sort of world will we choose to live in?

Everyone needs to have an understanding of sustainability. At a recent Business Environment Network Growth Workshop, Craig Hurley, Mgr National Centre for Sustainability (University of Ballarat) provided a simple terminology for sustainability which resonated with me  … “enough, for all, forever”.

Is this a realistic goal and can it be achieved in today’s world?  Have you thought about how we can promote development that meets the needs of today, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?

Thanks,

John

Tomorrow, we will launch our Action Plan for 2012-13.

Developed with the input of our members, this Action Plan identifies the six strategic drivers that will shape Committee’s work over the next year (and beyond).

Over the next six weeks, Committee for Ballarat’s CEO John Kilgour will post detailed and engaging information about each of these six strategic drivers and open discussion about how these drivers will help shape Ballarat.

Stay tuned for John’s first post tomorrow when he will announce what these six strategic drivers are.

 Welcome to our very first blog post.

Here you will be able to engage with members of the Committee for Ballarat network on the issues that matter to all of us.

Each week you will see posts from different members of the organisation. We will cover everything from detailed discussion from our CEO John Kilgour about our 2012/2013 Action Plan and member profiles, through to regular updates from our YAE graduate and ambassador Hunter Sedgwick, on youth employment in the region.

We hope you see this blog as an opportunity to engage with us on the topics you find interesting and we welcome your thoughts, comments and feedback.

Thanks.