GBAC Committee meets with state members

Future growth, transport, digital connectivity and other regional priorities were on the table as Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils (GBAC) Mayors and CEOs met with Member for Eureka Michaela Settle and Member for Ripon Martha Haylett.

Attending Mayors and CEOs had their sights set on a productive year ahead, despite the GBAC Committee Meeting being the final one for the year.

Following the alliance’s launch in September, the committee has developed a 12-month strategy to advocate the region’s priorities from 2024.

GBAC's transport priorities include expanded and improved bus and train services, upgraded roads and more efficient freight routes.

Growth priorities are focused on trunk infrastructure and planning law reform to enable new housing developments including social and affordable housing.

The alliance’s digital connectivity priority is to ensure mobile broadband coverage is equal to metropolitan areas and able to withstand emergencies.

Newly elected Mayors Cr Ally Munari from Moorabool Shire, Cr Robert Vance from Pyrenees Shire and Cr Liesbeth Long from Central Goldfields Shire were welcomed to the GBAC Committee during the December meeting, while outgoing Mayors Cr Ron Ward, Cr Ron Eason and Cr Grace La Vella were thanked and farewelled.

Ms Settle and Ms Haylett have committed to future liaison with the group to continue the discussion around GBAC’s advocacy priorities.