The station is a transport hub but current plans have relegated public transport needs, and there is substantially less allocation for public car parks than is presently provided by formal and informal parking areas. The station precinct has significant heritage infrastructure, but there appears to be little recognition of this heritage beyond large building structures such as the bluestone goods shed.

The station precinct is part of a wider heritage precinct and close to other important city infrastructure, but plans for the station appear to have been developed without much consideration of this wider city context. We are lacking publicly available information justifying selection of the site for a hotel development, and handover of 1.8 hectares of public land to the developer. There have been multiple public consultations and reports generated over the years, yet judging by conversations at Saturday's information forum, key expectations and facts do not appear to have been relayed to the project team.

There is a lot of local knowledge about city transport infrastructure, heritage and tourism, but decision-making powers have been handed over to the Minister for Planning. Altogether a very disappointing result, particularly from a state government which has made laudable investment in transport and other public infrastructure.

Barbara Cytowicz, Golden Point

Twice in the months since March, 2016 I have initiated a discussion with Ballarat City Council officers about the dangerous and damaging level crossing heading north in Gillies Street, near Howitt Street. I also brought the matter to the attention of the then local councillor; all to no avail.

The crossing continues to deteriorate with gaping holes enlarging daily. Every one of the thousands of cars and trucks that pass over that crossing daily must, in some way, suffer damage.

This is a major thoroughfare for heavy vehicles and cars to Melbourne via the freeway, shoppers to Stockland shopping centre, and visitors that come to our fair city and use this gateway to Lake Wendouree. It is quite possibly the responsibility of VicRoads or VicRail, or both. Personally, I don't care who the responsible party is.

Please, on behalf of the thousands of 'locals' and users of the Gillies Street North rail crossing, fix the problem or apply some heavy-handed pressure to whoever is responsible for maintaining a safe and acceptable crossing.

VicRoads is very good at applying the maximum amount of money for vehicle registration. Why then, do citizens have to suffer with such an inferior level crossing?

Les Holloway, Lake Gardens

When the closure of Hazelwood electricity plant was announced recently, the state government spokesman told us we would not feel too much of an impact to the price of household electricity; probably about 2 to 4%. Listening to the radio, I was rather angered to say the least when the electricity companies increased their price by 10% which will take effect just after Christmas in January; a great Christmas burden to many battling families' household budgets. Now all the state government can tell people is to shop around for the best deal. Well, Mr Andrews, because your government is not lifting a finger to stop the closure of Hazelwood power plant, many battling families will be feeling the pain just after Christmas with higher electricity bills, and all the Andrews government can say is shop around for a better deal.

Geoff Rundell, Ballarat