Opinion pieces
Lets plan for growth in a sustainable way
We need to seize the opportunity growth provides and plan now to ensure growth does not come at the expense of our liveability. We can continue to be recognised as one of Australia’s most desirable regional communities and have a growing population. Read more
Vaccination: A third jab will finish the job
It is astonishing to know that we have now reached 90% double dose for the Victorian population 12 years and over. We have built a ‘force field’ that will help protect us, protect our health care system, and ease the potential for any further widespread lockdowns. Read more
It’s time to give the Airport its wings!
Connectivity is a critical enabler for business, industry, and the community. The airport, in the short, medium and long term, gives us a very unique opportunity to connect road, rail and air, geographically and logistically, in ways that other regionals cities in Victoria cannot. Read more
By getting the jab, we can write next chapter
As we endure our fourth lock-down, it is easy to be consumed by negativity and a temptation to look for someone to blame. To be clear, being where we are, again, is not what any of us wanted and will have devastating impacts for so many in our community. We have seen this movie before and we didn’t like it. Read more
Melbourne Airport Rail – what’s next for regional Victoria?
Committee for Ballarat has been vocal in backing the MARL with the preferred option of a designated tunnel for airport and regional trains from the cities of Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton. This is not what the government has announced, so what’s next? Read more
Covid-19 is the end of life as we knew it….but is necessarily that a bad thing?
Published 1 June 2020, The Courier, Ballarat We are living in unprecedented times. We are enduring hardships that we haven’t seen since our grandparents endured World War 2. The pandemic descended on us with little time to prepare. Unemployment is at a record high, our federal government is set to return the highest deficit in […] Read more
Our chance to shape the post-COVID future of Ballarat
Published 17 May 2020, The Courier, Ballarat Many of us will have pondered over recent weeks what our world, our country, our region and our way of life will look like after COVID-19. I live on the edge of a park and have been buoyed by the number of people now walking, cycling and enjoying […] Read more