Launch of Ballarat is Open engagement
Date: Tuesday 8 October 2019
Time: 9.30am
Location: Art Gallery of Ballarat
Who: Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh with Paul Blake and Lisa Marie Dema from local Design Thinking specialists, Splendid Studio, who will be running design sprints across the city as part of the Ballarat is Open engagement
Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh will tomorrow launch the engagement period for the Ballarat is Open project.
Cr McIntosh said Ballarat is Open is a project for the community and business to have a say on what Ballarat will be in the future, on how we position the city and how we market the city as the best place in Australia to visit, to live and to run a business.
"When we talk about being 'open' we mean being open to new residents, new businesses, new ideas and opportunities - to a new way of describing what Ballarat is and sharing that broadly and proudly," Cr McIntosh said.
"This is another chance to hear from our locals - businesses and residents - about what we want for Ballarat and reflect on where we are now and how we can get to a position where prosperity is something we can all share in.
"We've pulled together information from previous consultations and distilled this into a discussion paper, and we'll be checking to see if this is still current or if there are new emerging views or bigger, bolder or better ideas for our future.
"Councillors participated in a design hack with Splendid Studio this morning and we're looking forward to the community taking part in that same unique and fun experience."
Paul Blake and Lisa Marie Dema, partners at Splendid Studio, said they are looking forward to working with Ballarat businesses, workers and residents.
"Design thinking allows us to come up with creative solutions using a human-centred mindset. The idea is that everyone has a chance to contribute their thoughts and ideas in a short space of time and then all this data can be used to come up with a strategy to take forward," Paul said.
"As Ballarat locals, we're really excited about this project and what residents and businesses will be able to come up with for the future of Ballarat. We know that there are all sorts of brilliant ideas out there and we're looking forward to being able to bring those all to the fore."
You can find more details on Ballarat is Open at mysay.ballarat.vic.gov.au/ballaratisopen, including links to book your place in one of eight design hacks happening across the city during October.
You can also contribute via the survey on the mySay page (opening 8 October) and by dropping into the City of Ballarat's Bridge Mall shopfront on 11 October or the Ballarat Town Hall 14 October or between 10am and 2pm.
