Public Notices - Friday 31 March 2023

Tender documents can be obtained from www.eprocure.com.au/ballarat 

OUTDOOR TOURISM EXPERIENCES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST 

Want to start a business or expand your current offering to include outdoors or nature-based bookable experiences for visitors? Expression of Interest are open now through to 10 April 2023 for the Outdoor Tourism Experiences Development Program.  

Managed by the City of Ballarat’s Sustainable Destination Development team, this program provides visitor economy operators the support they need to develop new experiences for visitors to immerse and connect with Ballarat’s outdoors.  

Successful applicants will be supported with one-on-one coaching to curate, refine and launch their bookable experience by spring 2023, with access to experts in tourism and experience delivery to help build successful business models. 

Participants will also be supported with marketing aimed at encouraging customers to book tickets to their experiences. 

For more information contact on 0477 729 561 or email madeleinesawyer@ballarat.vic.gov.au.   

PROPOSED DECLARATION OF BRIDGE MALL SPECIAL RATE 

Notice is hereby given that City of Ballarat resolved on 14 December 2022 to give public notice of its intention to declare a Bridge Mall Special Rate (“Proposed Scheme”) pursuant to section 163 of the Local Government Act 1989 (“Act”). 

The Proposed Scheme is intended to, in effect, renew the current Bridge Mall Special Rate, which supports the promotion of, security for, The Bridge shopping precinct (“the Precinct”) and is due to expire on 30 June 2023. 

The Proposed Scheme will be declared for the purpose of defraying the expenses of advertising, promotion, centre management, business development, security and other incidental expenses associated with the encouragement of commerce in the Precinct. It will commence on 1 July 2023 and remain in force for a period of five years, ending on 30 June 2028. 

The proposed Bridge Mall Special Rate is to be levied on all rateable land located within the Precinct which is primarily used, or adapted or designed to be used, for commercial purposes. The addresses of the properties of the Proposed Scheme are listed below. 

 A copy of the proposed declaration, including a detailed plan of the area of the Proposed Scheme, can be viewed at City of Ballarat Council Offices, The Phoenix, 25 Armstrong Street South, Ballarat, or on the City of Ballarat’s website. Electronic copies are also available by emailing info@ballarat.vic.gov.au. 

It is proposed that the Bridge Mall Special Rate will be assessed and levied as follows: 

In the first year (2023/24), $160,000 will be collected from the 80 rateable properties in the Precinct. For each subsequent year, the maximum amount collected will increase by 3%. The Special Rate for each property will be calculated and levied on the Capital Improved Value (CIV) of that property. The quantum of the rate in the dollar of the CIV of each rateable property in the Precinct, and the quantum of the minimum and maximum charges, will be adjusted on 1 July 2024 and on each anniversary of that date until 30 June 2028. 

The CIV of each parcel of rateable land is the CIV of that parcel of land at the time of levying the Bridge Mall Special Rate in each year. The CIV may change in the period during which the Proposed Scheme is in force, reflecting any revaluations and supplementary valuations which take place. 

It is further proposed that the persons liable to pay the Bridge Mall Special Rate will do so on the same date/s as Council’s general rates are due, and that they will be required to pay interest on any amount which has not been paid.  

The properties to which the Proposed Scheme will apply are those properties listed below: 

Bridge Mall: 

Council considers that each rateable property included in the Proposed Scheme and required to pay the Bridge Mall Special Rate will receive a special benefit because the viability of the Centre as a commercial, retail and professional area will be enhanced through increased economic activity. 

Submissions 

Any person may make a submission to the Proposed Scheme. Submissions must be lodged within twenty-eight (28) days after the date of this notice, being 5pm on Friday 28 April 2023, and will be considered in accordance with section 223 of the Act. 

A person making a submission is entitled to request in the submission that they wish to appear in person, or to be represented by a person specified in the submission, at a meeting to be heard in support of their submission. Submissions will be heard by Council at its meeting to be held on Wednesday 7 June 2023 (or such other date and time as the Chief Executive Officer subsequently determines). 

Any person making a written submission under section 223 of the Act is advised that details of submissions may be included within the official Council Agenda & Minutes, which are public documents, and which may be made available on Council’s website. 

Objections 

Any person who will be required to pay the Bridge Mall Special Rate is also entitled to exercise a right of objection under section 163B of the Act. An occupier of a property is entitled to exercise the right of objection if they submit documentary evidence with their objection which shows that it is a condition of their lease that they are liable to pay the Bridge Mall Special Rate in respect of the property. 

Objections must be made in writing and lodged within twenty-eight (28) days of the date of this notice, being 5pm on Friday 28 April 2023. The right of objection is in addition to the right to make a submission.   

Submissions and/or objections must be in writing and addressed and sent by mail or email to: 

Economic Development Team 

City of Ballarat 

PO Box 655 

Ballarat VIC 3353 Email: info@ballarat.vic.gov.au 

Council will consider whether to declare the Proposed Scheme at a meeting on Wednesday 28 June 2023 (or such other date as the Chief Executive Officer subsequently determines).  

Any person requiring further information concerning the proposed declaration of the special rate should in the first instance contact the Economic Development team on 03 5320 5500 or email economicdevelopment@ballarat.vic.gov.au