Then to hear on local ABC FM (February 21) that the Ballarat City Council has convened special meetings to allow all members time to be fully updated on the issues concerning our community hub.

Of course in small print I noticed "Council to consider building in its four-year plan"

. . . so it seems we have concurrent proposals which we hope yet again will translate into action beyond procrastination.

There has been noticeable avoidance of our "white elephant" in public council meetings as we wait and wonder when our representative council who we hope have the community interests at heart will quickly plan for immediate renovation and reuse of our public facility.

The Ballarat community has waited too long - the tomorrows have become months, years and now well over a decade without any meaningful, open public discussion and debate, as all the councillors keep proposals under wraps.

I am so very disappointed, ashamed and disgusted to be paying rates in this my home town, where they show complete disregard and disrespect for community needs.

Please have some foresight and be aware that as a council you can make a beneficial and generous difference for us all.

Please give us the courtesy, as a community to be fully updated with whatever plans are secretively coveted behind closed doors.

Of course we want the Eureka date December 3 respected as an Australian Democratic Holiday and surely our town could commemorate this with a Civic Hall community mural and help with the repainting plan.

Do our councillors really lack such foresight and need to spend another year in meetings?

ALISON ROBERTSON

Soldiers Hill