Council has appointed a group of community members with a wide range of expertise and networks to provide advice during the planning and design phase of the Ballarat Civic Hall redevelopment project.
The Community Advisory Panel will advise Council from a community viewpoint on critical issues, provide specialist input, comment and debate on the key design elements of the project.
The panel will also assist Council in keeping the community informed on the project’s progress.
The CAP is a nine member committee consisting of:
- Ballarat Heritage Advisory Committee - Dianne Gow
- Committee for Ballarat - John King Jnr
- Commerce Ballarat - Jodie Gillett
- Local architect - Peter Vernon
- VECCI - Christopher Carroll
- Australian Industry Group - Kay Macaulay
- University of Ballarat - Darren Holland
- Community representative - Howard Terrill
Council’s Director, Destination and Connections Jeff Pulford will represent Council and the Project Control Group.
The panel will assemble for the first time after the project architect is appointed. The panel will assist council in refining the design that is adopted through the current design competition process.
Ballarat Mayor Cr Craig Fletcher said the Community Advisory Panel was vital to the next stage of the project.
“We see the advisory panel as being critical to ensuring that the design of the precinct captures the essence of Ballarat,” Cr Fletcher said.
“With their wide range of expertise and networks, the group will be pivotal in providing Council with the community and sectoral advice needed throughout the planning and design phase of the project.”
“The panel is an important element in Council’s ongoing consultation with the community. Their role will be to provide Council with a community viewpoint on critical issues help us review design elements and together they will assist us in keeping the community up to date with the project’s progress.
“We look forward to working closely with the CAP throughout the duration of this exciting project.”
BACKGROUND:
In June 2010 Council resolved to relocate its administrative offices to the site occupied by the Civic Hall to free up the Ballarat Town Hall for community use.
In November 2010 Council was presented with a recommendation for a development of the precinct that would see a potential four-storey council office building, two six-level office buildings, CBD parking boosted by up to 1000 spaces, a high quality public plaza and greater access to the existing library.
The recommended option identified the requirement for the existing Civic Hall to be demolished, which was the most cost-effective option, providing the largest commercial yield and delivering the largest number of critical new car parks on the site.
Expressions of interest for the Community Advisory Panel were called for in January this year.
Last week, a national search to find an architect and design team for the Civic Hall redevelopment was narrowed down to three companies, Lyons, Spowers and BVN Architecture
The three companies have until Wednesday May 18 to submit their comprehensive tenders.