Cr Sullivan is right to advocate for the extension of the sewerage system to support sustainable growth to Ballarat's east in an environmentally responsible way.

As pointed out, these small towns have so much to offer including pre-existing infrastructure and access to Melbourne but without a proper sanitation system their growth is stymied.

Extending the sewerage system in an easterly direction would deliver real benefits much closer to town as well.

It seems unreal that in Eureka Street, just 4km from the Town Hall, some homes with older septic systems are still permitted to spew their untreated grey water (including last night's dinner scraps in the washing up) into the gutter, where they flow past other properties, into the waterways and affecting us all and the environment.

So yes please, as Cr Sullivan says: state government, Central Highlands Water, Moorabool and Ballarat Councils and affected residents - get that sewerage system out to the east as a priority for the region and its futures.

Lisa Waller, Ballarat North

What do you think? Let us know below.

I think there are two very good reasons not to expand east of Ballarat.

The first being that the land is high quality soil of volcanic origin (Mt Warrenheip and Mt Buninyong are the obvious reminders!) and once farmland is lost to housing, it's lost forever.

Which emphasises my second point - urban sprawl.

Do we really want to eventually connect up to Ballan? Bacchus Marsh?

An unending sea of bland houses and grey roofs?

Keep the area rural.

The land in Ballarat's west is much less fertile and more suited to greenfield developments.

Let's face it, Ballarat doesn't do suburbia very well although a tad better than the monotonous monstrosity of Western Melbourne.

Luke Ellis, Black Hill