August 2025 Council meeting recap

The following items were discussed and considered at a Ballarat City Council meeting on 27 August, 2025:

Council makes submission in response to Western Renewables Link Environmental Effects Statement

Ballarat City Council endorsed its final submission to be made to the Minister of Planning regarding the Environmental Effects Statement (EES) for the Western Renewables Link (WRL), a major 500kV transmission project proposed by AusNet. 

While supporting renewable energy, Council raised significant concerns about the project's environmental, social, and economic impacts. 

Key issues include the visual intrusion of the 80-metre towers, disruption to agricultural land, inadequate community consultation, and risks to heritage and biodiversity.

In the submission Council strongly advocates for undergrounding the transmission line where possible, especially in sensitive areas, and urges further investigation into alternative routes and heritage impacts. 

It also calls for improved road impact assessments, fairer land acquisition processes, and better stakeholder engagement. 

The submission includes 30 recommendations aimed at minimising harm and ensuring community benefit. 

The WRL is part of Victoria’s broader energy transition strategy, but Council insists it must not come at the cost of local landscapes, livelihoods, or cultural heritage.

Ballarat Botanical Gardens Master Plan unanimously adopted

A transformative 20-year vision for one of Victoria’s most iconic public gardens has officially been adopted, with Ballarat City Council unanimously endorsing the Ballarat Botanical Gardens Master Plan 2025–2045.

Developed through extensive community and stakeholder consultation, the plan aims to unify the Central, North, and South Gardens with the Lake Wendouree Foreshore into a cohesive, accessible botanical precinct.

Key projects include:

• a Children’s Garden precinct
• a new Southern Glasshouse with café
• Ballarat’s Back Garden learning space
• upgrades to the Fernery and Prime Ministers Avenue. 

The plan prioritizes climate resilience, heritage conservation, improved accessibility, and expanded educational offerings. 

Infrastructure upgrades will address drainage, irrigation, and pathway connectivity, while new event spaces and traffic calming measures aim to enhance visitor experience.

The plan aligns with major strategic frameworks including the Council Plan 2025–2029 and the Ballarat Biodiversity Strategy. 

It replaces the 1995 Master Plan and reflects Ballarat’s growing population and evolving environmental challenges. 

Council will stage funding over two decades, with opportunities for co-investment from other government levels. 

The plan reinforces Ballarat’s commitment to sustainability, inclusion, and cultural heritage, ensuring the Gardens remain a treasured destination for generations to come.

Community Engagement Policy

Council has adopted a revised Community Engagement Policy, replacing the 2021 version. 

The updated policy, shaped by Councillor workshops and public feedback from a June to July exhibition period, aims to enhance transparency, inclusivity, and community influence in decision-making. 

Key updates include clearer language around transparency, stakeholder inclusion, and cultural sensitivity. 

The policy aligns with the Local Government Act 2020, requiring deliberative engagement for major strategic plans. It outlines a tiered engagement model based on the IAP2 Spectrum, ranging from informing to empowering the community.

The policy also introduces structured planning, evaluation, and feedback mechanisms to improve engagement quality and accountability. 

The policy reinforces Council’s commitment to meaningful community participation and improved governance.

Two Councillor Notice of Motions presented

Cr Ted Lapkin submitted two Notice of Motions during the meeting.

The first was that Council: 

• Call for a report that considers the establishment of a stand-alone Modern Slavery Policy to be brought before Council that establishes procurement procedures designed to avoid the direct or indirect subsidisation of modern slavery; and
• Cites the Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s Modern Slavery Toolkit for Government Procurement Officers and the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth) as resources for the development of the City of Ballarat’s Modern Slavery Policy.

The motion wasn’t supported, noting Council already has a requirement in its adopted procurement policy to ensure that tenders consider modern slavery risks.

The second was that Council: 

• Call for a report that considers options for amendments to section 3.4 of the Councillor Communication and Information Policy with the purpose of enhancing the ability of Councillors to engage in free, open and spontaneous political discourse.

This motion was unanimously passed, with a report to be presented to Council at a future meeting.