What investment is necessary to support that growth? How can we best focus our lobbying efforts to secure projects and initiatives that will bring jobs and investment, tourists and sports lovers, and enhance local lifestyle?

We're currently enjoying the fruits of considerable government investment in our city - GovHub is being built, the Ballarat Railway Precinct is being redeveloped, Ballarat Regional Health Hospital is about to be transformed, businesses are investing in the Ballarat West Employment Zone, we have a new basketball and events centre with more to come, and Mars Stadium is kicking goals.

But what's next? As Ballarat's growth rate rapidly exceeds 2 per cent, we're busy building the infrastructure and facilities to support our residents and those living in the broader region - investment befitting our importance as the regional capital of western Victoria.

In Ballarat's CBD alone, close to $870 million in infrastructure projects are in planning or under way, with a further $100 million in concept. We're working with federal and state governments on the planning and delivery of these projects to ensure our city and region optimise the strong economic and social opportunities population growth and investment will bring.

Council believes revitalisation of Ballarat's CBD is key to maintaining a vibrant heart in our city. We want to maximise liveability, increase open green space, provide mixed, affordable housing, and improved connectivity. A combination of infrastructure and smart technology will help make it happen.

We're planning for 15,000 jobs by 2022, while urban renewal and infill will mean that the CBD will be home to 10,000 residents by 2040.

Ballarat's recent declaration as a UNESCO Creative City is expected to boost the $750 million tourism sector. City of Ballarat is well advanced in planning for growth with a strong, strategic framework for public realm improvements involving future-readiness work - the Bakery Hill Urban Renewal Plan, health, knowledge and city living precinct master planning, the CBD Strategy and the Creative Cities Strategy and old saleyards site. This will create a cohesiveness which will help tie together the significant development being undertaken - creating a high-amenity, accessible and thriving CBD and ensure planned, appropriate growth to the west. The Bakery Hill Urban Renewal Plan is an important element of our vision for how we will accommodate growth sustainably - it's a transformational project which aims to incorporate 100 per cent renewable energy, increased green space, a five per cent increase in new homes which showcase architectural excellence, with 600 new jobs and 5000 new residents.

However, our focus isn't just on the CBD. We're also asking, "what will the municipality of Ballarat look like in 10, 20, even 30 years' time?

"What will it be like to live here, work here, visit or operate a business in 2050?"

These are the challenges we'll be faced with in the not too distant future - ensuring we have the right health services, enough education facilities, land for housing and industry, recreation and cultural places, and the right transport infrastructure so people can move around the city and connect to other cities. These are the challenges we're planning for now. We want to ensure our city remains a liveable, environmentally sustainable, economic generator for the region - even if Ballarat's population grows to 140,000, or 200,000 or 280,000 by 2050.

We want to ensure you, our residents, understand what growth will mean for Ballarat and that you have input into how we plan for and manage that growth. We're working now to put the plans and measures in place to ensure the things we love most about living in Ballarat are not lost or irreversibly compromised. It's critically important that we never lose what makes Ballarat special - that while we grow, our city retains the essence of what makes it - and us - unique.

So, what is the next big thing? I believe it's the willingness to embrace what Ballarat could be - and to engage in discussion now - so we can actively shape our future and put in place a clear action plan to achieve it.

As much as council sets the direction it must be in partnership with residents, the private sector and governments, to make this happen in the right way. That's our focus. The next big thing is Ballarat itself.

Cr Ben Taylor is mayor of Ballarat