The City of Ballarat received its 2024/25 Annual Report at Wednesday's Ordinary Meeting of Council, marking a transformative year of progress delivering major infrastructure upgrades, strategic planning milestones, and expanded community services.
The Annual Report provides a summary of the City of Ballarat's performance in the 2024/25 financial year and is the final measure of the achievements in delivering on the aspirations in the Council Plan 2021-2025.
It is Council's key accountability document to residents, ratepayers, stakeholders and other State and Federal agencies, showing how rates and resources have been used to deliver services, projects and outcomes for the community.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said the Annual Report showcases how Council is planning responsibly and delivering projects for a sustainable and thriving future.
"It isn't just a summary of figures, but a reflection of how we've worked with our community to turn ideas into outcomes," she said.
"It shows the real value of every dollar invested, every partnership formed, and every project delivered."
"This year's achievements show our commitment to revitalising our city, supporting our growing population and investing in services that improve everyday life."
"From the long-awaited reopening of the Bridge Mall and the revitalisation of Her Majesty's Theatre to expanding essential services and planning for sustainable growth, we're proud of the progress we've made and grateful for the community's continued engagement."
Key achievements:
Among the standout projects was the $23.3 million transformation of Bridge Mall, which reopened to traffic for the first time since 1980, creating a vibrant, accessible precinct with smart lighting, play spaces and portal view to the Yarrowee.
The $16.3 million upgrade of Her Majesty's Theatre also reached completion, enhancing accessibility and preserving one of Ballarat's most iconic heritage venues.
Other major infrastructure milestones included the completion of the Lucas Community Hub expansion, providing improved kindergarten and community facilities.
Significant progress was made at the Marty Busch Reserve sports precinct, with new netball courts, cricket nets, and lighting upgrades underway.
Meanwhile, the Brown Hill Splash Park is on track to open later this year, offering a new recreational space that celebrates the area's mining heritage.
Advocacy and funding successes:
Council's advocacy efforts led to major funding and recognition for key community priorities. Highlights include $8.53 million Federal funding to help deliver a new community hub at Eastwood in the heart of Ballarat's CBD and $1.1 million awarded to support emergency response infrastructure at the Ballarat Airport Aeromedical Facility.
The City of Ballarat also secured State Government support for a number of important projects including $500,000 for Continuous Voices memorial for victims and survivors of sexual assault and $388,850 for the Art Gallery of Ballarat to complete a Master Plan that will drive the ambitious future direction of the Art Gallery of Ballarat.
Strategies shaping the future:
With Ballarat's population expected to grow by up to 55,000 people by 2041, requiring more than 29,000 new homes, Council has adopted a suite of strategic planning documents to guide sustainable growth.
These include the Ballarat Housing Strategy 2041, the Ballarat Growth Areas Framework Plan, and a review of the Ballarat West Precinct Structure Plan and Developer Contribution Plan. Together, these strategies provide a clear framework for managing housing demand, infrastructure delivery and long-term urban development across the municipality.
Financial and performance highlights:
Council delivered $77.5 million of capital works in 2024/25, investing in major infrastructure while maintaining a strong financial position. Planned borrowings of $20.16 million were deferred due to project timing, and no new borrowings were taken out for the fifth consecutive year, helping to shield the city from rising interest rates. Increases in Council rates, on average, were capped at 2.75%, balancing affordability with service delivery.
Performance across key services continued to improve. Planning applications determined within 60 days rose to 76.4%. Road maintenance requests dropped to 50.8 per 100km of sealed roads, while satisfaction with sealed roads increased.
Libraries saw a surge in engagement with over 29,000 program participants, waste diversion reached 43.3% (supported by a successful soft plastics trial), and the Ballarat Aquatic & Lifestyle Centre welcomed 703,000 visits.
City of Ballarat CEO Evan King said the report reflects a year of strong leadership and community collaboration.
"We've delivered major projects, improved services, and laid the foundation for future growth," he said.
"As we look ahead to the new Council Plan, we remain focused on transparency, innovation and continuing to work with and for our community."
The full Annual Report 2024/25 is available on the City of Ballarat website. Hard copies are also available at the Phoenix Customer Service Centre, 25 Armstrong Street South, Ballarat Central.
