Mayor's Message - Friday 5 September 2025

Spring is a season of renewal and fresh beginnings, and that spirit is captured in the latest edition of ourballarat, arriving soon in letterboxes across the municipality.

In this issue, we explore the rollout of the new Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) and glass kerbside collection services, launching on 3 November. This marks a shift in how we manage household waste, embracing smarter, more sustainable practices that reduce landfill and help shape a cleaner, greener future for Ballarat.

We also shine a spotlight on a group of local musicians who have completed the Creative Ballarat Be Hear Now program and are celebrating a new chapter with the release of their original singles. For these talented artists, it’s just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey.

Meanwhile, at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre, our youngest community members are off to a strong start, developing essential motor skills like balance, strength and coordination. It’s all about building confidence, having fun and laying the foundation for lifelong wellbeing.

ourballarat is your community magazine. With every edition, we aim to highlight local people and places, share important updates and keep you connected with events.

And now, we’re excited to share that ourballarat is evolving, giving you more choice in how you read it.

Starting with the Summer 2025/26 edition, ourballarat will no longer be automatically mailed to every household, giving you a choice in how you receive your news.

For those that love digital, ourballarat will be available on the City of Ballarat website - same great articles with the bonus of additional images and content.

Prefer the feel of paper? Collect a copy from any of the Ballarat Libraries or as an insert right here in the Ballarat Times.

And if you still want it delivered to your door, simply contact City of Ballarat’s Customer Service team on 5320 5500 and join the mailing list, free of charge.

This fresh start is all about delivering your news your way.

We can’t wait to share this new chapter with you, because no matter the season, there’s always something happening in Ballarat worth celebrating.

Mayor Cr Tracey Hargreaves