A DELEGATION of Ballarat business identities will travel to Canberra today to meet with senior politicians and lobby significant issues and opportunities for the region.The delegation has been put together to brief all sides of politics on key priorities for the region. These will include managing the city’s population growth, attracting and retaining medical professionals, plans for the Eureka Sports and Entertainment precinct and strengthening opportunities for regional university students.Meetings have been scheduled with the likes of minsters Nicola Roxon, Simon Crean and Tony Bourke as well as opposition members Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Sophie Mirabella.Businesses taking part in the delegation include the University of Ballarat, City of Ballarat, Selkirk Brick, Ballarat Health Services, Committee for Ballarat, The Courier and Premier PR.University of Ballarat’s Vice-Chancellor Professor David Battersby said trips like this were integral to ensure Ballarat continued to grow and prosper.“With very successful and established education, health, manufacturing industries, Ballarat is in a great position for the future, but now is the time to implement a number of projects so that our city continues to be a leader in regional Victoria,” Professor Battersby said.Also part of the delegation is mayor Cr Craig Fletcher, who said it was important to keep politicians abreast of what was happening locally.“This trip allows us, as a united community, to put forward our future vision for this city to a number of influential ministers,” he said.