Environmental sustainability has been included as part of the four key criteria in the 2018 – 2019 funding guidelines, after being excluded from 2017 – 2018 criteria. 

Friends of Black Hill Reserve member Neil Huybregts is preparing a submission for the group to receive a grant for new tools, but says there needs to be greater emphasis on sustainability in City of Ballarat organisational structures.

“We have been struggling since we formed a few years ago. Getting a cash injection would be fantastic,” he said. 

“Maybe there is a bit of a paradigm shift happening and environmental sustainability is getting talked about a bit more at council.”

City of Ballarat director infrastructure and environment Terry Demeo said the next round of the grants program would consider applications across a wider range of areas.

But Mr Huybregts said more could be done. 

“It’s notable that in My Ballarat some months ago under sustainability they had projects that were really to do with building up infrastructure. I get that for the sustainability of the city as a functioning place it is necessary to have infrastructure, but the meaning of sustainability as it relates to minimising environmental impact just didn’t get a mention.

“We need to really sit down together and look at what we can do in terms of repairing damage to the local environment that has been done in the past.

“When you look at the old photos from the mining days the place looks like the surface of the moon. That is the legacy we all, including council, have to try to deal with.”

Mr Huybregts has raised concern City of Ballarat does not have a sustainability officer, meaning there is not one staff member who is responsible for environmental sustainability. 

Neighbouring Hepburn Shire Council does have a sustainability officer. 

Mr Demeo said environmental sustainability was the responsibility of all City of Ballarat departments under the current organisational structure.

“The City of Ballarat's sustainability resources are spread across a wide range of areas, including our places and renewal team, parks and waterways team, and our waste and environmental team. The City of Ballarat also has officers dedicated to water sustainability.

“The City of Ballarat has plans to appoint additional sustainability staff as a result of the resignation of existing staff.”

Applications for the first round of the 2018 – 2019 Community Impact Grant Program are now open and close on September 3. 

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