City of Ballarat Council will push ahead with an plan to transform the Ballarat Showgrounds into a sports and events precinct after a new location for the show was unveiled.
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On Monday morning the Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society revealed it would be shifting to Federation University’s Mount Rowan facility, bringing to an end more than 80 years of operation at the existing showgrounds.
City of Ballarat mayor Samantha McIntosh confirmed council would look again at the potential to transform the entire block into a sports and events precinct.
“Now we’ve got this commitment for the new site further out it means we can look at potential for broader sporting precinct and the way that works with Mars Stadium,” Cr McIntosh said.
“There has been plenty of work done in the past and we won't be tossing that out the door.
“Decisions have not been made but the conversation has certainly begun.”
The concept was touted as far back as 2010 in council’s pre-feasibility study for Eureka Stadium, prior to the state government’s funding commitment.
Since then almost $32 million has been spent upgrading the facility to AFL-standard and improving the neighbouring CE Brown Reserve.
A 2015 master plan outlined two potential designs for the precinct, stretching from the the corner of Howitt Street and Creswick Road and taking in all the sporting infrastructure to the corner of Dowling and Norman streets.
BAPS owns a small parcel of land at the existing showgrounds site, however bulk of the block is Crown Land.
It is likely the council or state government would look to acquire BAPS’ property should they forge ahead with the sports and events precinct concept.
While the 2015 designs would likely inform any future plans for the showgrounds site, they would need major amendments due to the works which have since been undertaken across the block.
BAPS is in the final stages of negotiating the purchase of the 16.2-hectare Mount Rowan block which sits on the edge of the Midland Highway and Rose Hill Road, with a final agreement expected in coming weeks.
The purchase comes after the state government committed $5 million to the society for new infrastructure at the 2014 election.
BAPS executive officer Lucy Quartermain said the society was attracted by the existing equine infrastructure at the Mount Rowan site, which had been missing from the existing showgrounds location.
Ms Quartermain said she anticipated the show would move to its new home in less than five years.
“We will continue to be aligned with FedUni into the future because we see education and agriculture as going hand in hand,” Ms Quartermain said. “Now we can start focusing on planning and developing our new location.”
The group had been compelled to seek out a new location for the Ballarat Show due to capacity constraints at the existing site. In recent years equestrian events have been held at the polo field located at the Ballarat Airport.
FedUni will continue to operate its agricultural program from the Mount Rowan site once the sale is complete.
In a statement FedUni deputy vice-chancellor Darren Holland said “relocation to new premises will allow BAPS to expand activity and maintain the relevance and long history of the Society in Ballarat”.
“The University is keen to see the best use made of its assets and this agreement is the best way forward for both organisations,” the statement read.
It remains uncertain whether regular events such as Rotary’s Trash and Treasure Sunday market will stay at the Creswick Road site or shift to Mount Rowan. Event organisers currently go through BAPS, who are the Crown Lease holders.
