OPINION
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What a great editorial by the editor of The Courier entitled 'The numbers that matter for our CBD'. The editor's concerns around GovHub having been promised as an economic stimulus for Ballarat with 600 extra jobs are well founded. We shall see the 'real' outcomes soon.
But moving on to other numbers that matter for our CBD. The boundaries of the City of Ballarat, ensure that the land area is somewhat lopsided. Due to the early working of the gold mines being in and around the Yarrowee River the CBD naturally developed on its banks up on the cliff top.
After the early settlements and the town developed the flatter part spread westwards. The recognised centre of the city of Ballarat became the intersection of Sturt and Lydiard streets. The general balance of homes on the east of the river and business on the west bank was how Ballarat development for a long time, with homes slowly surrounding the business centre.
What the 'numbers' now show is that while the Sturt and Lydiard intersection is the traditional/spiritual centre of Ballarat most traditional businesses (other than retail) have moved or closed.
So where are the 'numbers' of people working in the traditional CBD today?
Maybe a couple of thousand in and around the lower end of Sturt street, Lydiard street and Mair street.
Meanwhile 7 blocks up the road is the hospitals and allied health services precinct. The Ballarat Base Hospital (see website) employs 4300 people while St John of God employs around 900 people (see 2019 Annual report). Add on to that the numerous Universities and Allied health with staff in and around that area. Thus the current total number in that health precinct numbers around the 5500 figure.
On top of this both hospitals plan to expand. My estimation is the employment in that precinct within the next 8 - 10 years will be around the 10,000 mark.
The 'numbers' Central Business District is now the Health precinct at Drummond and Sturt and Drummond and Mair Street.
Add to this the fact that most residential development is in the West, further 'pulls' the CBD westward.
To be clear the CBD is not heading eastward and back into Bridge Mall. Unfortunately at this time the Bridge Mall is stuck and that is that. It is a simple fact.
The 'numbers' say spending money on linking the traditional CBD with the new Drummond CBD is maybe the best investment to make.