“Back on Arbor Day in 1890, at exactly 11.30am, a trumpet sounded and the community of Ballarat planted 3,000 trees in Victoria Park in 10 minutes,” said Belinda Coates. “Today, the Greens are sounding the
trumpet again and calling on the citizens of Ballarat to protect the parkland that has been a recreational haven for the community for over a hundred years.”

“There might be some in the community who would seek to exploit all that prime, undeveloped real estate in the heart of Ballarat," said Belinda Coates. "But the community needs more parkland and recreational spaces, not less,”

“One of the great legacies of the early city planners was to set aside significant areas of space for citizens to relax and spend their leisure time in,” said Belinda Coates. “These areas must be preserved. If this proposal is given approval, what other chunk of Victoria Park will be next?”

“Surely there is a capacity to reinvigorate or replace the ageing infrastructure at the current site rather than asphalting over another piece of parkland,” said Belinda Coates.

“There has also been discussion about relocating the R.S.L to the proposed site, with the prospect of an application for additional poker machines,” said Belinda Coates. “Most people would agree that the last thing Ballarat needs is more pokies.”


For more information and comment, please contact:
Belinda Coates via Jon Stanger on (mob) 0415 755 181
or
Dave Lane on (mob) 0419 156 213.

Please note: Belinda Coates, The Greens candidate for Ballarat West, will be available for comment and photos at Victoria Park, corner of Sutton St and Winter St, Ballarat at 12:30pm Friday 29th September.