IT'S not a very long list, but the final $5 million in funding for Her Majesty's Theatre should be a priority when the Federal Budget is handed down tonight, says the City of Ballarat.
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Deep into its renovation and with $10 million already pledged from the State Government, the Lydiard Street institution is the centrepiece of the Ballarat budget wish list when Treasurer Josh Frydenberg delivers the final budget of the parliamentary term at 7.30pm this evening.
Mayor Samantha McIntosh said while significant work had been undertaken, the final commitment would ensure new disability access.
"I would hope that a project like this is recognised in the budget," she said. "We need another $5 million. This is imperative for the future of Her Majesty's Theatre, it's even more important than the future, it's about access for everyone.
"We want to know that anyone in our community, anyone in our region for that matter, has access to backstage, to below stage, to the auditorium, to the green room, to the long room. There needs to be access to any member of our community to access Her Majesty's as they need."
Cr McIntosh said modern requirements meant the building needed a re-fit
"Buildings were built differently back in the gold rush and this is a beautiful example of our history, at the same time, the requirements are different today," she said.
"It's important that while we are doing the works, we have that commitment of another $5 million to ensure we complete this really important part of the project.
"Council has already put $5.3 million on the table for Her Majesty's Theatre, that is a significant commitment of the council which has had the unanimous support of the Councillor group."
Labor MP Catherine King said she had made representation to opposition arts spokesman Tony Burke to see if it could be funded should Labor win the May election.
Chair of the Committee For Ballarat Nick Beale also backed the funding for the theatre as the top priority in the budget.
However Mr Beale added that he hoped Ballarat would have also been included in recent fast rail commitments for the Geelong line.
"When you sort out Sunshine, you have to sort it out for everything, Geelong, Ballarat and the airport," he said.
"You've got to create four lines out of Sunshine to Caroline Springs, four lines to Melton and Tarneit, if you get that right, you need to do all in one."
Mr Beale also said the Ballarat Innovation and Research Collaboration in Health (BIRCH) was also a priority request. The State Government has committed more than $300,000 for a study into the project.
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