With the Design Studio set to open next week the Save Civic Hall needs to rally its supporters and determine what direction we are going to take.   The Community Design Process will be in progress during 2015 and the group will support Here Studio in facilitating this process.

There will be a meeting/workshop on Monday the 8th December at 5.pm at the Civic Hall Design Studio.  All Civic Hall Supporters are requested to attend to put forth their questions and ideas.  This is not a debate on whether or not the Civic hall should be demolished.  It will be a facilitated workshop on establishing a way forward.

At Wednesday  night’s Council meeting Cr Belinda Coates moved a motion which included noting the appointment of Here Studio as the lead facilitator and endorsing the Terms of Reference for the Partnership Group for the Participatory Community Design Process. It also included “continuing the suspension of the Planning Permit Application for the demolition of the Civic Hall to ensure the current body of objections remains current during the course of the Participatory Community Design Process”. We are happy to inform you that this resolution was carried. On the studio front, Council is still awaiting an occupancy permit to be issued by the building inspector. We are told that the final inspection has been scheduled for this coming week.

The safety glass has now been installed and the boards are off.  If you are passing by make sure you have a look.  See what you think!!

Watch this space for information on the Design Studio and upcoming events

The Ballarat Civic Hall Community Design Process hosted by Here Studio is now open for business.  It was launched today with a Community event .  The boards were taken from  the doors and the community were invited to enter the studio and view the main hall from the foyer.

There community were asked to write down their thoughts and ideas and pin them on a board.  Having read the posts there was an overwhelming response to retain and re-use  the hall and keep it for future generations.  Some plans of previous designs for The Civic Hall  and its site were on show and people were keen to have a look and assess them for their merit or lack thereof, depending on one’s point of view.

Here Studio will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.   If you have any thoughts or ideas on a design for The Civic Hall and its site please call in and talk to Ammon or Michelle who will guide you through the process.  The Community Design process is anticipated to take place over the coming 12 months.

We were blessed with a beautiful day for the launch which was conducive for taking photos…here are a few.

At last the Community Design Process will be launched on the Saturday 25th October at 11.00am.   A free community event is planned for this much anticipated Initiative.  There will be entertainment and children’s activities and an opening ceremony.  The extended weather forecast for the day is: Dry with Broken Clouds, a maximum temperature 19 degrees, which is perfect for this event.

The foyer will open and the main hall is expected to open as work progresses on the building.  The community is invited to attend the Foyer during opening hours (yet to be announced) and discuss their hopes and aspirations and contribute to a future design for The Ballarat Civic Hall.

Further details will be available through the media and on this site in the coming days so stay tuned.

ASU (Australian Services) OrganiserTash Wark said that as recently as the middle of last week the ASU was assured by VicRoads that there were no concrete plans and no definite decision about relocation to Ballarat.

“It is really frustrating that VicRoads is not consulting workers about further progress in this decision despite actively seeking updated and clear advice from management.  Employees have every right to know whether VicRoads is acting transparently and in good faith.”

“The potential move would have a massive impact on the lives of many.  It could result in VicRoads workers having to commute to Ballarat instead of Kew in order to keep their jobs.  This means extra travel costs in an economy where fuel and transport are already an increased burden on workers and their families.  It also means less quality time for family and friends.  It is highly unrealistic to expect that relocation is an option for everyone.

“It seems VicRoads employees are being used as political pawns in a pork-barrelling exercise by an unpopular and anti-worker government who are flailing their way to election time.  We hope Victorians see through these ploys.”

A transcript of an article from The Miner Newspaper 9th October 2014     page 11

http://www.theminer.net.au/index.php/our-latest-edition