Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils (GBAC) Launch

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King today launched the Greater Ballarat Alliance of Councils (GBAC).

GBAC, which replaces Central Highlands Councils of Victoria, is a newly formed grouping of six rural and regional councils located in and around Ballarat. It has been established to act as a united voice for member councils to tackle common issues such as the underservicing of peri-urban growth areas and securing a fair share of Victorian and Commonwealth government funding for the Greater Ballarat region.

Minister King was joined at the launch by City of Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson and several other mayors and CEOs of participating councils. Mayor Hudson has been appointed chair of the Alliance.

The Alliance will be focused on the three priority areas of enhanced public and private transport, enabling growth, and improving digital connectivity.

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

As part of enabling growth, participating councils are focused on attracting new social and affordable housing, initiating planning law reform, and securing more supporting infrastructure.

The Alliance is also committed to ensuring that mobile broadband coverage is on par with metropolitan areas and resilient enough to sustain emergency communications in the event of bushfire and other natural disasters.

The participating councils are City of Ballarat, Central Goldfields Shire Council, Pyrenees Shire Council, Hepburn Shire Council, Golden Plains Shire Council, and Moorabool Shire Council.

Residents of the Greater Ballarat region can have their say on what issues they would like the Alliance to tackle at www.gbac.org.au