City and state leaders have condemned a planned anti-vaxxer protest in Ballarat, with police and businesses joining the call that needless disruption is not welcome in our city.
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It comes after medical authorities warned the congregation of unvaccinated protesters from Melbourne could become a super-spreader event and on Thursday, Ballarat also experienced its worst COVID outbreak in a month, with another nine positive cases announced.
Paradoxically, Ballarat remains one of the most vaccinated places in Victoria, having passed the 95 percent double dose rate among adults almost three weeks ago and at these uptake levels now likely to be above 98 percent vaccinated.
Police have also announced they are planning a major presence in the CBD on Sunday to curb any possible troublemakers at the 'freedom' rally.
It's not known how many people will attend the event, but a significant amount of Ballarat's CBD is expected to be affected as protesters in what they claim is an attempt to "reclaim Eureka". Today is the 158th anniversary of the Eureka stockade.
Delays are expected across central Ballarat on Sunday, with police planning a major operation in response to planned protest activity.
In a post on the official Ballarat Police Eyewatch Facebook page, officers urged patience across the city on Sunday.
"Victoria Police expect the following streets to be impacted from around midday until 5pm: Mair Street, Peel Street, Victoria Street, Curtis Street, Little Bridge Street, Sturt Street and Lydiard Street," the post states.
In a statement, a Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed to The Courier there would be a presence in Ballarat on the day.
"Victoria Police is aware of planned protest activity in Ballarat," they said.
"Victoria Police respects the right to protest peacefully and lawfully.
"There will be a police presence in the area to ensure there are no breaches of the peace.
"We understand that any protest activity in Ballarat has potential to cause disruption to businesses in what will be a busy time leading up to Christmas.
"Victoria Police is engaging with protest organisers and the City of Ballarat in an effort to ensure that any protest activity causes as little disruption as possible."
"Freedom protests" will take place in Melbourne on Saturday and will head to Ballarat on Sunday to commemorate Eureka Day.
The City of Ballarat has pre-emptively postponed children's activities and talks on Sunday, to be held at the Eureka Centre, to next Sunday.
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The City of Ballarat has been approached for further comment.
"Protests in Melbourne have demonstrated the ability of the virus to rapidly spread in crowds that are not masked or vaccinated," said Dr Robert Grenfell from the Grampians Public Health Unit.
Ballarat residents are now more than 95 per cent fully vaccinated.
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