Under new changes outlined in the Councillor Expenses Entitlement Policy, all councillors will now be required to get approval from the council’s chief executive Justine Linley before interstate travel is authorised. 

Previously, councillors were not required to get permission from the council’s chief executive for interstate travel if it fell within their council duties.

Ballarat City Council has approved a liquor licence for Burger Brother and Chookahs Charcoal Chicken in Wendouree. 

Councillors unanimously voted in favour of approving a permit for owners to sell liquor at the restaurant at 1219B, Howitt Street.

Under regulations set out in the permit, customers are only allowed to consume alcohol on the premises between 11am and 9pm from Monday to Sunday. Councillor Des Hudson said the council must do what it can to support small businesses. 

Ballarat councillors have accepted a request by the Department of Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)  for the council to be appointed as the Committee of Management for a parcel of Crown land in Sebastopol.

The Yullie Cairn Wetland is located at Vickers Street.

A review by DELWP suggested the council take ownership of the land so it can maintain a memorial homestead of one of Ballarat’s earliest settlers which is situated at the site.

 All councilors voted in favour of the request at a council meeting on Wednesday.