BALLARAT City Council will tonight cram several major decisions into one action-packed meeting to clear the slate for the incoming council.
More than 30 items will be debated, including the Stockland Wendouree and former Damascus College site redevelopments, the draft Woodmans Hill Gateway Master Plan and the Victoria Park Visioning Project.
Also under discussion will be the Black Hill Reserve management plan, a League of Historical Cities Conference report, Miners Rest community planning, the Civic Hall community consultation outcomes, the Art Gallery of Ballarat governance arrangements, the local impact of TAFE cuts and the Ballarat Aquatic Centre financial report.
There are another four items in the agenda’s confidential section, including the chief executive officer’s performance and remuneration review.
Councillor Ben Taylor will put forward a motion on notice about the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility.
Tonight’s meeting is the last before the council goes into caretaker mode in the lead-up to the October 27 local government elections.
This means that no decisions binding the next council can be made after midnight on Tuesday, September 25.
The next Ballarat City Council meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, September 26.
Council candidate Gary Fitzgerald, who has attended nearly every Ballarat City Council meeting for the past decade, said his first thought on seeing the agenda was that it was going to be a late night.
“And when you have a late meeting, decisions are not made correctly,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
“Throwing it all together doesn’t do justice to the items.
“It’s one of the largest agendas I’ve seen and it makes me wonder why it’s all piled into one meeting.
“Things will get rushed through and it doesn’t leave much time for proper debate.”
fiona.henderson@thecourier.com.au
