YOUNG mum Emma Powell thinks a bigger Ballarat with new and better sporting precincts and other facilities will improve life in her adopted home town.
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But she doesn’t believe in throwing out the baby with the bath water, so to speak.
The 25-year-old moved to Ballarat from Canberra four years ago to be with future husband Matthew.
After marrying, they moved into a rented townhouse and now have an eight-month-old baby daughter, Kaley.
Emma believes there needs to be an emphasis on a modern Ballarat but not completely at the expense of the city’s history.
“For people of my generation – because there are so many advances – it is important to have an emphasis on modern facilities for a growing population,” Mrs Powell said.
“But, personally, I feel you have to retain some pockets of heritage. I think Civic Hall, for example, should be renovated instead of completely knocked down.
“I like the various sporting opportunities and facilities Ballarat offers, and the university. Federation Uni is known for its sports degrees, and that’s part of what attracted me here. I’d also like to see new sporting facilities that could draw major sporting events to Ballarat.”
As someone who intends to settle in the Ballarat region in the long term, Mrs Powell says family-friendly development would appeal most to her.
New public schools would also be a priority.
“It depends on the demographics of people they want to attract but families need backyards,” she said.
“There have been new suburbs open recently and I think that is beneficial.
“I like older houses but some do need a facelift. But I wouldn’t change it completely. You need to keep heritage and town history around or else every single city and town in Australia would look the same and that would not be a good thing.”
Mrs Powell believes Ballarat could ultimately become a commuting centre, particularly if transport was improved.