TOO MANY QUESTIONS UNANSWERED on precinct
Last Saturday was the 162nd anniversary of the Eureka Stockade. It is a very important anniversary for Ballarat, marking the beginning of a citizens' democracy movement that secured vital democratic reforms for us all. The anniversary was celebrated in Ballarat by those devoted to democracy, and the right of all citizens to participate in the political process. I pay tribute especially to the Anarchist Media Alliance of Melbourne, who since 2002 have faithfully marked the anniversary at dawn each Eureka Day at the Stockade memorial in Eureka Street. They then walk to Bakery Hill, the Town Hall and the Old Cemetery to pay their respects to those who died at the Stockade. They end their long day of commemoration with an annual dinner, oration and music. People come from Queensland, NSW and all over Victoria to attend the celebrations. I was embarrassed marching up the Bridge Mall on Saturday morning that local people did not realise the significance of our national day. This year we have seen challenges to the Eureka legacy - a legacy I identify with democracy and multiculturalism. We have seen the Australia First movement apply to the Australian Electoral Commission to appropriate the Eureka Flag as their logo. We have seen our Federal Member, Catherine King mount a magnificent challenge to this attempt with her Private Members' Bill to protect the Eureka Flag. Thank you Catherine. Now we face another challenge to democracy in Ballarat. Unexpectedly, it comes from a Labor government.
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Last week's announcement by the Andrews government about the future of our iconic railway station came as a blow to many Ballarat citizens. In public consultations held over several years, no local resident ever recommended a hotel on the site. Everyone wanted to see the restoration of the bluestone Goods Shed, repurposed for a contemporary use, that respects the wonderful heritage of the stonemason's art demonstrated in the building.
The first priority of the existing Master Plan was developing a bus station within the precinct to connect local bus services with train services. Yet the bus station is not funded in the new plan, and instead PTV proposes to ruin the historic ambiance of Lydiard Street by locating seven bus stops along the street. What consultant in Melbourne, or Brisbane, has drawn up this plan? Is the Andrews government really planning to gift our crown land to the Pellicano Group so they can build a Quest apartment block? What is the Ballarat City Council doing about all this? What has happened to future planning for commuters, which the 2002 Master Plan highlighted? The plan signals a net loss of commuter parking spaces, when our population of commuters is rising every day. I urge Ballarat citizens to exercise their democratic rights, inspired by the men and women of 1854, and question both state and local government about these issues.
Anne Beggs-Sunter, Ballarat Heritage Watch
Lost spirit of democracy
I could not believe that an effigy of Pauline Hanson was burned at the Eureka rebellion memorial service. What is more unbelievable is that it was destroyed at the Australian Museum of Democracy.
She was elected in a democratic manner and obviously there are many supporters, otherwise she would not have been successful.
Whether or not you agree or disagree with her policies, it is not up to a group of narrow minded people who feel the need to force their views on the public to burn an image of her.
I have an ancestor who died at Eureka and I would never attend a memorial after this incident. If I had been there, I would have walked out in disgust.
If you are going to burn an effigy of anyone, do not do it at the museum of so called democracy.
What a disgrace you all are to our democracy and to our city.
Jenny Hynes, Lake Wendouree
