SIXTY-TWO submissions have so far been received on the future of the controversial Civic Hall.
Of these, 11 suggest it should be used for a visitor information centre while another 11 believe it would make an excellent civic space.
Ten think it would be ideal for car parking, with five of those also suggesting caravan parking.
Another five have suggested a landscaped open space, four want cafes or restaurants and three prefer a specialised entertainment precinct.
A further three believe it could be developed into adjustable meeting rooms, two want a bus terminal and two prefer backpacker accommodation.
The rest of the submissions suggest the Mair Street site could be used as retail space for niche stores, a community theatre, jewellery school, gallery space, cinema, 50-metre heated indoor pool, small-business incubator, manufacturing heritage museum, apartments and office space.
One other suggestion is for a
new multi-storey building containing apartments, office space, boutique shopping, cafes/restaurants with alfresco dining space opening to landscaped gardens, a tourist
office, a Ballarat City Council community advice and referral bureau and
a single-storey free-standing building along Mair Street.
Another submission prefers the original plan unveiled last year for $40 million council offices.
Once submissions are closed, a concept and visualisation team will work with the council to create a “working book” which will be narrowed down to the final development concepts.
When the submission process was announced in late March, Ballarat mayor Mark Harris said it was a “courageous act” to have so much public involvement.
“It’s challenging but it’s plainly the right thing to do and we’ve just got to get it done,” Cr Harris said last month.
Plans to demolish the Civic Hall and build council offices were rejected in December last year due to community opposition.
Submissions are still open until May 18 and can be made via civichall2012@ballarat.vic.gov.au or PO Box 655, Ballarat, 3350.
A short film or filmed interview can be posted onto the council’s Youtube channel,
www.youtube.com/user/cityofballarat.
