Commentary
Opinion
Argument and analysis from Ballarat contributors — columnists, academics, business people and residents. We publish a range of viewpoints; not every piece reflects ours.
- Opinion
A Ballarat–Airport rail link is overdue, and the case is stronger than ever
For a city of more than 110,000 people, sending travellers down the Western Freeway in a coach to catch a flight feels like a relic of another era. Connecting Ballarat to Melbourne Airport by rail is not a vanity project — it is basic regional infrastructure.
“A direct rail connection would do more for regional jobs than another decade of road widening.”
- Opinion
We can protect our heritage and still build the homes Ballarat needs
The framing of heritage protection as the enemy of new housing is lazy. Some of Ballarat's best 19th-century streetscapes already sit alongside thoughtful, contemporary infill. The question is not whether to build, but how well.
“Good design is the answer to both heritage anxiety and the housing shortage. We just have to demand it.”
- Opinion
A winter arts season is the smartest tourism bet Ballarat could make
Sovereign Hill's winter program proves that visitors will travel for a strong cultural moment in the cold months. If the city committed to a coordinated July–August arts season, the multiplier across hospitality and accommodation would be substantial.
“Cold weather is not the problem. The absence of a coordinated cultural calendar is.”