The City of Ballarat’s ‘harmony roundabout’ was completed last week at the intersection of Mair Street and Ripon Street North, but has raised the ire of residents living in a heritage overlay area just hundreds of metres from Lake Wendouree.

Local Nicole Sutton has begun a petition campaigning for a change to the project.

Ms Sutton says she welcomes the adoption of the harmony message, but believes it could be better spread than through infrastructure works.

“I think the money would have been better spent in designing a program to go out to schools,” she said.

She also has concerns over council’s lack of transparency for the cost of the project, alongside a lack of consultation with nearby residents and ratepayers.

Council would not give a cost for the project when contacted by The Courier earlier this month.

“It’s also in a heritage area – for me that’s a big point,” Ms Sutton said.

 “We live in a heritage overlay and if anyone wanted to do extensions, we have to go through very strict (procedures).

“If we wanted to paint our fence rainbow it would be knocked back.”

Ms Sutton and other residents will meet with the City of Ballarat’s general manager (of) city services Terry Demeo to discuss the project.

City of Ballarat was again asked for a costing of the project on Tuesday, but did not provide a response by The Courier’s deadline.

It was also questioned on when or if it was addressed in a council meeting and whether or not a heritage report had been conducted on the project.

It was also contacted for comment on behalf of Mr Demeo in regards to the upcoming meeting with local residents. It did not respond to the other requests.