BALLARAT City Council has voted to demolish Civic Hall after it last night heard from nearly 50 members of the public during a marathon six-hour meeting.
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During the meeting, which stretched beyond 1am, most people expressed support for keeping the hall. However the council voted 6 to 3 to knock down the hall, a plan which will cost ratepayers $2 million. Mayor John Burt said the council had to have a plan for the next 20, 50 or 70 years.
The recommendation was not supported by Cr Samantha McIntosh, Cr Vicki Coltman or Cr Belinda Coates.
Up to 150 people attended the meeting, spilling out of the chamber and into separate rooms. Many shared fond memories of their time at the hall attending deb balls, rock concerts and ballroom dances.
Earlier in the evening, Mayor John Burt said the council needed to resolve the key question as to whether the building should be retained or demolished prior to commencing a lengthy and expensive development process.
"I want to say from the bottom of my heart as a councillor and as a mayor of this wonderful city we have not and we will not take this decision lightly and flippantly," he said.
Committee for Ballarat chief executive officer John Kilgour was one of the few people who spoke in favour of demolition, and said visionary leadership was needed to bring the precinct to life and create jobs for the next generation.
"Unlocking the potential of this site to allow private enterprise to come in is absolutely critical," he said.
"No it's not," a member of the gallery shouted.
The vast majority of the gallery spoke passionately in support of retaining the hall.
The council passed a formal motion to extend the meeting when the clocked ticked past 11pm.
There were not too many droopy eyes in the audience but lots of sore hands from clapping as, one by one, speakers rose to address the council.
Historian Anne Beggs-Sunter referred to Peter Lalor and said the community would "fight to defend our Civic Hall".