An ambitious $144 million capital works program is transforming the city and solidifying its reputation as a destination of choice. The $18.6 million Bridge Mall redevelopment is the first step in a plan to revitalise the CBD. Work is underway to restore the historic Her Majesty’s Theatre Ballarat. The $14 million makeover will improve accessibility, rejuvenate public areas and ensure the 148-year-old cultural hub thrives for future generations.
Ballarat Library, the busiest in Western Victoria, has undergone its first major redevelopment since 1993. The $7.5 million project includes an expansion to the second floor, a new entrance, purpose-built teaching areas and inviting open spaces.
Other projects include lighting improvements around Lake Wendouree, a $1 million overhaul of the Victoria-Albert Streets Precinct, and a $10 million community hub and kindergarten for the rapidly growing suburb of Alfredton.
The Ballarat West Employment Zone is poised to be the driving force behind the city's economic and job-market boom. This 438-hectare hub dedicated to agribusiness, manufacturing, construction, freight and research is expected to create thousands of jobs and inject billions of dollars into the local economy over the next two decades.
Work has already begun on the significant $595.6 million overhaul of the Ballarat Base Hospital. This project will deliver a new emergency department and 100 extra beds for inpatient and short-stay care by 2027.
Schools across the region are being comprehensively upgraded. St Patrick’s College Ballarat has unveiled a $2 million assembly hall and performing arts space, and Woodmans Hill Secondary College will open its $8.5 million new VCE centre in 2026. A Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership has been built in Ballarat, offering advanced professional learning for high-performing teachers. For younger learners, early childhood centres across the region are being refurbished to accommodate expanded services. A new centre, Djila-tjarriu Kindergarten, opened in Alfredton this year and Ballarat Specialist Kindergarten has undergone a $1.8 million expansion.
The council has earmarked $36.3 million to improve local roads, while the government's upgrade of the Western Highway between Ballarat and Stawell will help meet the demands of a growing population and keep traffic flowing for the 8000 vehicles using the highway daily.
Meanwhile, commuters continue to enjoy the benefits of more than 135 additional weekly services on the Ballarat train line. Site investigations are now underway to upgrade Ballarat Station to improve safety, accessibility and connectivity by 2026
