More healthy food and drink items are now available at the Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre (BALC), fueling physical exercise for thousands of people every week.
The City of Ballarat has partnered with Ballarat Community Health and Afloat Cafe to update the menu to make healthier food and drinks front and centre.
Using the pre-existing 'Eat Well, Feel Good Ballarat' branding that is already in place at Selkirk Stadium and Eureka Pool, the changes in the café seek to promote and encourage healthy eating and drinking at BALC.
The changes follow a survey conducted in 2024 that yielded more than 750 results. In the survey, the community praised the variety, coffee and customer service currently available at the café, while also identifying opportunities to further increase healthy options and decrease less healthy options.
Since the survey, the cafe has trialled a series of alterations to encourage healthy eating and drinking behaviours.
These changes have included an increase in the number of healthy options available and a boost to their promotion, with grab and go cheese and crackers, superfood balls and bags of nuts/trail mixes among the most popular healthy food options.
There has also been a reduction in less healthy options, as well as moving them to less prominent locations. There has been a 16 per cent reduction in the number of sugary drinks available, with a refreshed drinks fridge layout instead supporting people to make healthier choices.
Whilst these changes have predominantly focused on children and young people, positive impacts extend to all community members.
The changes align with the City of Ballarat Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2031, which prioritises ensuring more healthy and affordable foods are available at council-managed facilities.
City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves said healthy food options were vital in facilities like BALC, which attracted a record 700,000 visits in the 2024/25 financial year.
Of the 700,000 annual visits, about half are estimated to be people aged under 18.
"Good food fuels good lives and by championing healthy food options, we're supporting the wellbeing of families and setting the next generation for success," Cr Hargreaves said.
"We're proud to work with Ballarat Community Health on this initiative and want to pay particular thanks to Will at Afloat Cafe for being so willing to come on the ride with us."
Ballarat Community Health CEO Sean Duffy said promoting healthy eating in the BALC setting supported the establishment of life long healthy food and activity behaviours.
"Ensuring healthy food and drinks are readily available is vital to supporting healthier lifestyles," he said.
"We're delighted to partner with the City of Ballarat on this initiative and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the wellbeing of our community."
Afloat Cafe owner Will Qu said he was happy to support the changes.
"We are proud to be supporting healthy eating in the Ballarat community," he said.
The project was funded by VicHealth as part of the VicHealth Local Government Partnership.
