See Fiona Henderson’s video presentation on some of the public ideas for Civic Hall and where to next for the controversial site.
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A RACETRACK, a casino, a 50-metre indoor pool, a 50 or 60-storey tower and a world-class jewellery store are some of the proposals put forward for the Civic Hall site.
Other submissions received by Ballarat City Council suggest a ‘super’ pokies venue, a medical facility, a business incubator and a natural history museum.
Of the 293 submissions, the majority want the iconic hall kept, with most people wanting it transformed into a community hub, a tourist information centre, a concert venue, a youth space and/or meeting rooms.
Other suggestions include an exhibition space, a multicultural hub, a shopping mall, a convention centre and an indoor market.
There are also proposals to transform the 1950s building into a Centre for Discovery and Imagination, similar to Scienceworks, a new art gallery or to transfer the Minerdome to the Mair Street site.
There was also a strong push for it to become a homeless shelter or a bus terminal.
However, there were also several calls to demolish the hall and make it either a park, a car park, council offices or a plaza-style shopping complex.
One submission said it should be a tourist information precinct, with bus interchange and backpacker accommodation.
“It should also be a fully effective youth centre, not simply a makeshift coffee shop for dropouts,” the submission read.
Another reads: “Ballarat is looking for a permanent home for the visitors and information centre. Well here it is at the centre of our city! It is easy to find as all major roads running north, south, east and west, in and out of Ballarat, virtually run directly to it.”
One submission wanted a “very, very high rise ‘Tower Block’.”
A further submission says: “In my view there is only one answer – clear it all away and make a large car park. I say this not because I would like it but because it is necessary for Ballarat’s future.”
Two community forums on the Civic Hall’s future will be held tomorrow at the Mercure Ballarat Hotel and Convention Centre at 10am and 2pm.
Mayor Mark Harris said the forums would put like-minded people into groups.
“The hope is to workshop ideas to a stage where architects can take them and visualise them,” Cr Harris said.
He said the ideas would be brought to a plenary session in the next month or two.
To register for the forums, email civichall2012@ballarat.vic.gov.au or contact 5320 5176.
