A NUMBER of major projects including the Western Highway and the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre were on the agenda during the City of Ballarat mayor’s recent visit to Canberra.
Des Hudson spent much of the last week in Canberra actively campaigning with other Central Highlands mayors to bring some more political attention to the region.
Cr Hudson said much of the work and lobbying completed in Canberra focused on projects across the entire region, not just in Ballarat.
“We had probably 12 to 15 opportunities to talk to people about the projects we are lobbying for,” he said.
“We keep talking about Ballarat growing, we need to add our strength and weight to the projects in the entire western region, because we are the capital for the region.”
With the week expected to be one of, if not the, last sitting week in the lead up to the federal election, Cr Hudson said it was important to get the ear of politicians.
“It is all about sharpening pencils and making sure the projects that are important to us are clear and we are going to present them to all sides of politics,” he said.
“We want our projects supported by both sides, that is a fantastic result, then we guarantee the projects.”
With an election just around the corner, Ballarat is considered one of the electorates set to draw significant political attention throughout the race.
With the majority of major candidates already announcing their intention to run for the seat of Ballarat, it is expected a number of political commitments will be made in coming months.
Cr Hudson said other projects raised throughout the trip included the Parwan Employment Precinct in the Moorabool Shire as well as the City of Ballarat’s continuing push for a bioenergy plant in our own employment zone.
“They are are all significant projects that will continue to grow our region,” Cr Hudson said.
“All sides of politics were really interested in what we were talking about.”
