With council elections approaching, a coalition of progressive interest groups, young and old, are banding together to make sure their voices are heard.
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The Ballarat Community Alliance promises to ensure there's a seat at the table for new ideas, and will begin by sending surveys to council candidates so the public can gauge where they stand on various issues.
The group has also planned a candidate forum for October 3 - according to co-founder Tony Goodfellow, this will encourage residents to become more informed and involved in the election process, and in their new council representatives.
Billed as non-partisan, participants so far include Ballarat Allies, the Ballarat Bicycle User Group, the Public Transport Users Association Ballarat, Ballarat Unions and the Ballarat Climate Action Network, and the Ballarat Action Climate Co-op youth group.
The partnership will focus on issues - from gambling reform to Aboriginal reconciliation, disability rights and housing issues, and multiculturalism, Mr Goodfellow said.
"We're just starting, and there's some amazing people already in the group, it's such a joy to be around them," he said.
"We welcome more people to join and make it a big thing."
The Action Climate Co-op's Hazel Lanyon said in a statement she had big hopes for the group.
"My vision for Ballarat is a Ballarat where people are taking meaningful and visible action on climate change," she said.
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"Ballarat has the potential to be a model for the rest of the country and if we elect the right people, we can make this happen."
Community Alliance co-founder and Ballarat Allies co-founder Ange Elson said great things can be achieved when the community comes together.
"We're inventive and compassionate and we deserve a council that is as visionary and committed to the greater good as its citizens," she said in a statement.
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