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Ballarat Heritagewatch Inc.Newsletter: Spring 2008
“There is no reason to think that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens cannot change the world; indeed that’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead
Ballarat Heritagewatch Inc.’s Annual General Meeting was held on Tuesday 11 November 2008, at 5.30pm in the Reading Room of Craig’s Hotel. The owner conducted members on a tour of the building, to see the extremely impressive restoration that has been undertaken throughout the building. work.
The office bearers for 2008-9 are Anne Beggs Sunter President, Dinah McGance Vice-President, Jenny Sorrell Secretary, and Brian Pola Treasurer.
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Review of Heritage Issues in Ballarat for 2008
The year has been dominated by concerns about the operation of the Ballarat City Council. Anyone who attended Council meetings was aware that the issue of pecuniary interest was treated in a cavalier way by some councilors. This led to the resignations of Wayne Rigg and Geoff Hayes in December last, leaving Council bereft of anyone to speak in favour of preserving our heritage. I wrote twice to the Minister for Local Government, seeking an enquiry into the Council, but the reply on both occasions was that the Minister would only act if financial improprieties were demonstrated. But when Wayne Rigg wrote to the Minister, he finally instituted an inquiry to be conducted by Price, Waterhouse Coopers. The consultants visited Ballarat and interviewed Councillors, staff and some citizens – interestingly I was never approached for an interview. The report, released in October, was damming of the former CEO (Richard Hancock) for his high spending on consultants. It dammed the appointment of Darren Booth as Manager of Planning when he had no planning qualifications. It also recommended charges against Councillors Gary Anderson and David Vendy for not declaring pecuniary interests, in relation to the North Star Hotel, and the Civic Hall project. This report was a vindication of all the things we have been fighting for over the last ten years.
The release of the report (thanks to the Internet it was on the local ABC website, and the City of Ballarat’s website) made headlines in "The Courier", with many articles, editorials and letters to the editor condemning the Council. This led to an immediate tightening up of Council procedures.
The 2008 Local Government elections were fiercely contested, with a record field of 40 candidates for the new three ward system in the City of Ballarat. Our Treasurer Brian Pola has put up his hand for the South Ward. The result saw a new broom sweep through Council. Judy Verlin, who has proved herself an astute councilor, was elected Mayor, and Samantha McIntosh was appointed to the Heritage Advisory Committee. She has been a great addition to the committee, with her experience in restoring old buildings, and her passion for Ballarat.
In November 2008 we are still waiting for the Heritage Precincts Study 2006 (Amendment C107) to be adopted. CEO Anthony Schinck (appointed in December 2007 to replace Richard Hancock who escaped to the Northern Territory, leaving us the parting gift of Roland Rocchiccioli as cultural consultant!) went to the Minister for Planning seeking extension of the interim heritage overlay, because Amendment C107 had still not been finalized. In view of the many objections to the amendment, whipped up by a mis-information campaign in December 2007, the Planning Department has had the amendment scrutinized by a heritage consultant from Melbourne. It is likely that Amendment C107 will come before the new Ballarat City Council in early 2009.
The chief objectors to Amendment C107 were residents of Lake Wendouree who wanted to demolish modest but attractive Art Deco houses to build post-modern mansions. A VCAT panel agreed with these residents, and we now lament the monstrosities that have been approved around the Parade – testament to the inadequacies of VCAT and its reliance on handsomely paid ‘expert witnesses’.
We did object to a proposal by Mike Kauffman to demolish an Edwardian house at 141 Wendouree Parade. A number of neighbours also objected, and I raised the issue at a meeting of the Heritage Advisory Committee. United objections led to the applicant modifying his plans, to extend at the back of the house rather than demolish – a good result.
After the drama of the Commonwealth Bank in 2006, and Bunnings in 2007, we had a quiet time at VCAT this year. There was one hearing I was associated with, which related to an application for a car wash in the Victoria St. Heritage Precinct. A VCAT hearing was held on 27 August 2008 in Ballarat. About 27 objectors (neighbours) were present and spoke strongly against the proposal for the car wash. VCAT upheld the residents, and the car wash was quashed – a good result.
When Darren Booth (without Planning qualifications!) became Manager of Planning in early 2008, he shocked us by announcing that the positions of Heritage Advisor and Heritage and Urban Design Officer would be terminated. Instead the City would commission a ‘panel’ of heritage experts to assist Council with individual applications. I excited the wrath of the CEO for exposing this decision in the local newspaper. But many people supported my wrath through letters to the editor, and we sent a petition to Council (signed during Heritage Weekend) seeking restitution of these important positions.
The City announced that it would appoint a new Heritage Advisor and a Heritage Officer, responsible to George Sossi’s Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department. However as I write we have no Heritage Advisor, and after advertising the Heritage Officer position, and interviews being conducted, no appointment has been made! This is a dreadful situation for a city like Ballarat, a member of the World League of Historical Cities.
Late in 2008 the Planning Department was required to conduct a Review of the Ballarat Planning Scheme. I made a submission to the review of the local provisions of the scheme, drawing attention to the need for a height limit for developments.
In October 2008 the Director of Planning, Darren Booth (in the job less than a year), announced that he would resign ‘for personal reasons’. CEO Anthony Schinck announced on 5 November 2008 that the new director would be Trevor McCullogh, formerly a general manager with Kingston City Council.
Wins in 2008Canadian Valley Outline Development Plan adopted by Council in October. Enshrines respect for natural heritage and the environment.
Golden Point School restored, and becomes adult education centre and headquarters of Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council and U3A.
Michelle Coxall’s bookshop, the Known World, at the bottom of Sturt St, opened August 2008. Michelle has magnificently refurbished the building, taking it back to a beautiful Edwardian interior.
Refurbishment of Craig’s Hotel completed.
Re-development of St. John’s Hospital will allow former Bailey’s Mansion to attain its former prominence.
Watching BriefsFormer St. Columbas Hall (Redemptorist Monastery Chapel) still languishing in the Council depot., in spite of statements by Cr. Anderson that he would assist in its re-location.
Civic Hall still up in the air.
Unicorn Hotel – oh dear!
Avenue of Honor and Arch of Victory – Integra (formerly Roadcon) commits to sensitive development of the Avenue, and contributing to restoration of the Arch of Victory. Heritage Victoria is keeping a close watch on the works.
Extending the Heritage Study – still no work on Sebastopol, Wendouree, Invermay.
Lake View Hotel re-development. Announced by Troons, seeking to add apartments around hotel and demolish an Art Deco residence.
The Bunnings development in Creswick Plaza started in October 2008, making Macarthur St. look like a bomb site. It will be important for us to ensure that the conditions on the permit are adhered to: Bunnings must screen the ‘nursery’ with tall shrubs and a picket fence, and its garden products must not be visible from the street above the hedge. There are also restrictions on the hours for deliveries, no signs to be placed on the north side of the development, and a requirement to maintain the brick chimney and bluestone gutters on Creswick Road. Advertising signage is not allowed to be illuminated.
Thank you to the Committee for their work during the year – Dinah McGance, Jenny Sorrell, Rae Sebo, Geoff Wallis, Liz Sheedy, Merrie Harvey and Brian Pola.
And thanks to the media. Danielle Perkins of the Courier has bravely reported on planning issues. Dominic Brine from ABC FM Radio Ballarat has been a champion on his breakfast program for keeping planning and heritage issues before the local community and for his regular session with the Mayor after Council meetings. Also thanks to Jarrod Watt for his podcasts and lively reporting on the ABC website. The ABC staff played a key role in promoting Ballarat’s Heritage Weekend in May.
We are in for an interesting year. Let’s make sure the new Council stick to their promises.
Anne Beggs Sunter,
President, 2008.
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