PETITIONS TO COUNCIL
Petitions are one of the ways the community can ensure their views are heard by Council. In order to ensure that your petition is valid and able to be accepted by the Council, the Local Law must be adhered to. All valid petitions along with petitioners details will form part of a report to Council which will be included in the public agenda and placed on Council's website for two years. Therefore to ensure all petitioners are aware of this your petition must include this statement. The Petition Template (38KB) includes this statement. If there is a reason why a petitioner may require anonymity of their address please seek the consent of Council by phoning 5320 5543 to exclude their address.
How should a petition look?
- Petitions should be written (not in pencil), typed or printed.
- Each petition are to be signed by at least 20 people, joint letters are to be signed by between 2 and 19 people.
- Each petition must begin with the words:
'The petitioners whose names, addresses and signatures appear hereunder petition the Ballarat City Council as follows:'
...and then a statement of the terms of request must follow.
- Every signatorys name, address and signature must be clearly stated.
What will happen if a petition doesn't conform to these conditions?
A petition which does not conform to these conditions is not valid and may not be accepted by Council.
If you are concerned about any of the above issues, a Petition Template (38KB) is available to download and use which conforms to the Local Law.
How do I get my petition to a Council meeting?
- In order to make sure your petition goes before Council, you must give the original (signed) petition to your Councillor who will table it at the next appropriate Council meeting.
- Every Councillor presenting a petition must write his or her name at the beginning of the petition or letter.
- Councillors must present the petition or joint letter to the Governance Unit before being presented to Council to ensure the correct resolution with referral to the correct department. The Councillor may then present the petition or joint letter to Council. Petitions can also be presented by Council Officers.)
What happens to the petition at a Council meeting?
- The Councillor will present the petition to the Council, state the request and move for its acceptance, it will then be seconded by another Councillor.
- Depending on the content of the Petition, the Council may call for a report into its request.
- Petitions are not considered at the meeting they are presented at, unless the petition is urgent.
What does a petition not do?
A petition relating to a planning permit application does not constitute an objection. Objections must be lodged separately with the Town Planning unit.
Where can the regulations on petitions be found?
Local Law No.16 (PDF - 258KB) - Meeting Procedures. Section 66 governs how petitions should be presented and what format they should take.
For further information please contact:
City of Ballarat Customer Services
The Phoenix
25 Armstrong Street South
Ballarat, Vic 3350
PO Box: 655
Ballarat, Vic 3353
P: 03 5320 5500
F: 03 53334061
E: ballcity@ballarat.vic.gov.au
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If you are deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service (www.relayservice.com.au):
- TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for 03 5320 5500
- Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 03 5320 5500
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For all general enquiries please click here.
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