Ballarat City
About this page
Ballarat is one of Victoria's largest cities with a population of nearly 86,000 in the local council area. It is approximately 108 km northwest of Melbourne.
Ballarat looking to 'take the next step'.
Jun 07 City of Ballarat have asked for tenders to deliver their Bicycle Strategy for 2008-2013.
Bicycle Victoria is pleased to see that the brief for the strategy looks to improve the cycling network and specifically mentions:
- To consider Copenhagen style bike lanes.
- Development of the disused north south Saleyards rail line.
- Linking the Ballarat University Mount Helen campus to Wendouree.
- Major off road Trails including the Ballarat to Skipton Rail Trail, Yarrowee Trail and City link crossing
Council bike spending recieves a boost
May 06 The City of Ballarat's draft budget for 2007/08 has over $330,000 for bike specific spending, which is up from $130,000 for this year. This is great news for Ballarat bike riders and is in part a result of campaigning from the Ballarat Bicycle User group - Balbug.
The draft budget still needs to be adopted by council. Click here to email the mayor to thank him for the draft budget and to urge him to pass it unchanged.
Lake Wendouree circuit bypasses
Jun 05. Cyclists using the popular Lake Wendouree cycling circuit will now find it safer thanks to three new bypass allowing cyclists to avoid the traffic at roundabouts.
Rudy Novotny from Ballarat BUG describes the intersections with the roundabouts as “very dangerous” and is pleased that the new 1.5m bypasses are “wide and easily accessible”.
Bike map
Jun 05 The BUG is also working with Council on a new Ballarat Bicycle map. The process of identifying the bicycle facilities has been an interesting one for the BUG. “We can see what bits are missing” says Rudy. This helps to identify projects that need to be carried out.
Local elections see some bike-friendly councillors elected
Nov 04 Council elections have seen a majority of councillors elected who support the completion of vital cycling projects in Ballarat.
Bicycle Victoria and the Ballarat Bicycle Users Group interviewed candidates in the lead up to the election. We asked them :
Q1.Will you vote for the installation of bike lanes on Sturt St to Lake Wendouree and Ballarat High School?
Q2. Will you vote for $200,000 per annum in the council budget to commence implementation of the Ballarat Bicycle Strategy?
Q3.Will you vote for the construction of an off-road trail to connect the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail to Lake Wendouree and the Ballarat Railway Station?
The responses of the elected councillors are given below. With most councillors supporting the projects there is a real promise that the projects will be completed in this councils term. The projects will see a real improvement in cycling condition and build on the liveability and tourism of the City of Ballarat.
|
Alfredton Ward |
Q1 Bike lanes on Sturt St |
Q2 $200K pa to implement bike strategy |
Q3 Trail from Ballarat-Skipton Rail trail to town |
|
Geoff Hayes |
Supporter of bike lanes generally. Would need to speak with council officers about the project and carry out community consultation to see whether they are appropriate for Sturt St |
Haven't read the bike strategy yet so cannot comment at this stage |
Need a council officers report. Knows the benefits but have to investigate which bits to do first & where connection would be. Would have to vie with other funding priorities & money would have to be in the budget |
|
Buninyong Ward |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
Peter Innes |
Definitely yes |
Not familiar with strategy. Can't comment at this stage or commit to specific funding amount |
Yes |
|
Caledonian Ward |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
Stephen Jones |
I don't know. Haven't thought about it. |
I have called for a report on all strategies to sort and prioritise them. The bike strategy would be part of that process. Can't commit to $ amount. Lots of things in the mix. |
Yes, natural progression with new subdivision. Getting bike and walking tracks connected to the lake. |
|
Canadian Ward |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
Gary Anderson |
Yes, I support that. Needs marking. |
Yes, support that. Know document strategy. |
That's fine. |
|
Central Ward |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
Herman Ruyg |
No contact details provided |
|
|
|
Learmouth Ward |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
Wayne Rigg |
I will be happy to consider each proposal once they are fully costed, designed, put out for public comment and then presented to council. |
Have not seen the Ballarat Bicycle strategy and would be interested in seeing what detail is contained in it. |
|
|
Nerrina Ward |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
Ian Jolly |
Yes, cyclist myself |
Yes, would have to have a look at it but would push for funding to implement the strategy. |
Yes |
|
Sebastapol Ward |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
Des Hudson |
No response |
|
|
|
Wendouree Ward |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
|
David Vendy |
Yes, provided it can be done. |
The bike strategy is on a list of priorities but can't commit to a specifc funding amount. |
Rail trail is an excellent idea. |
Sturt St bike lanes
Feb 04 With no new bike lanes constructed last year, we met with traffic engineers at Ballarat Council to discuss developing concept designs for installing bike lanes on Sturt St, an important link through the heart of the city. The key tasks to an even better bicycle network in Ballarat are:
- ensuring that future works are built to a high standard; some existing bike lanes are narrower than the minimum 1.5m next to parked cars.
- constructing bike facilities on other key routes. These include Sturt St and the loop around the mall, both identified as priorities in the Ballarat Bicycle Plan;
- connecting existing routes.
Bicycle Victoria will continue working with Ballarat City Council to ensure this happens.
Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail
See link (right) for information on the rail trail.
Ring Road Path
Jan 04 The popular commuter route to McCains and Mars factories has been completed with a crossing of the railway line constructed. Riders now do not have to cross the road each time they want to cross the rail line. Pity about the chicanes and riders dismount signs though, we don't think they are needed.