Earlier this year, the media unit, which has long been housed inside the town hall, was booted from the building to the council-leased Gordon Buildings on the opposite side of Bath Lane. 

In a statement released by the City of Ballarat to The Courier, the council said the Visitor Information Centre and the offices of Ballarat Regional Tourism (BRT) would relocate from their rented premises on Lydiard Street North to the town hall in the coming months. 

It said the Visitor Information Centre would be located inside the existing Bath Lane entrance, overlooking the Inagawa Garden.

Initially, BRT was to be housed in the west wing, but earlier this month, council revealed it would be moved into the east wing instead. It is believed the decision was made due to greater disability access and parking for patrons outside of the east wing of the hall. 

Council said the change had been agreed in consultation with BRT.

“As part of this move, the media and communications unit have temporarily relocated to an existing City of Ballarat office space in Bath Lane,” the statement read. 

When The Courier asked council how long its media officers would be housed at the rental office across the road, it declined to say.

Council said the latest change would also “necessitate the move” of mayor John Philips and chief executive officer Anthony Schinck from the east wing to the west wing. 

Another idea flagged during the changes inside town hall was the establishment of a dedicated communal area for councillors and chief executive officers in the hall’s west wing. 

However, Cr Des Hudson said there were no “hard plans” in place for the idea. “I don’t see an immediate need for a space like this,” he said. 

“There is more than enough room for councillors and chief executive officers to have mutual gatherings, and there are generally enough rooms for councillors to have a meeting with community groups or residents without the need for a dedicated space.”

melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au