Keeping new development facts on track

I support improved parking and amenity in the station precinct. 

And I support the job creation that will come with the hotel and the adaptive reuse of the Goods Shed as a conference centre.

However, I understand that not everyone will agree with me about the value of this project. It’s good that there are different opinions on government policies and projects - that’s what makes a democracy work.

But not all of the commentary about this project has been well informed. 

I believe some people, including politicians and opponents of the project, have even deliberately misrepresented the Ballarat Station Precinct Redevelopment.

I think it important that the conversation about this major project has a grounding in facts.

So I thought it would be useful to outline some facts about the project and dispel some of the inaccuracies being peddled in our community.

The Ballarat Station Precinct Redevelopment will see construction of a five-storey hotel, the conservation and adaption of the Goods Shed to accommodate a conference centre and retail space. 

There’ll be new vehicle access to the site, construction of an ‘at grade’ carpark for the hotel and conference facility, construction of a multi-deck commuter carpark, as well as landscaping and signage.

This description of the works within the Ballarat Station Precinct hasn’t come from a politician or government spin doctor.

This completely factual and impartial description of the project to the north of the Ballarat Railway Station is part of the Heritage Permit issued by experts at Heritage Victoria.

Unfortunately, some of the small number of opponents of this project have tried to suggest that the project is vastly different to this factual presentation.

While it is important to understand what this project is, it is equally important to understand what this project is not.

Firstly, any suggestion that the station is for sale or being sold off is simply untrue. 

The Ballarat Railway Station is, and will remain, owned by all of us.

The hotel will be sited on a portion of the precinct that had been identified as surplus to requirements by VicTrack and V/Line.

But the Ballarat Railway Station is not, as some have claimed, for sale.

The Ballarat Station Precinct Redevelopment will not, as some have misleadingly claimed, “destroy’ the heritage of the station. 

Most obviously, the Ballarat Railway Station is not part of this project, and it never has been. 

The project is being undertaken within the station precinct and no changes are being made to the station because of the redevelopment

But more importantly, the Ballarat Station Precinct Redevelopment has been approved by the experts at Heritage Victoria.

This ensures the valuable heritage of our beautiful station’s aspects will be preserved while the precinct is opened up to greater use.

In an attempt to mischaracterise the redevelopment of the Ballarat Station Precinct some have suggested the project includes construction of a block of flats.

Again, this misrepresentation is designed to paint the redevelopment of the station precinct as something that it is not.

This description does the community a disservice.

The Ballarat Station Precinct Redevelopment includes construction of a modern 4.5-star Quest Hotel with 77 rooms.

The rooms in this hotel will provide accommodation for visitors to Ballarat and not a permanent residence as is misleadingly suggested by opponents of the project.

I know that the opponents of this project do not share my views about the value of development of land not required for transport into the site of a hotel.

And the same opponents of the project probably place a lesser value than I do on the economic activity and jobs that will be created because of this project.

But I urge them to stick to the facts when advocating their position – rather than attempting to mislead the community.