Front page news: August 22-28, 2007-2015
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August 28, 2007: The developer of the former Prestige Ltd Mill site is planning to build Australia’s first carbon neutral independent living units.
The 51 independent living units form part of an overall $30 million development at the Prestige site, which will include a hotel/convention centre, medical centre and retail outlets.
Dominic Calabro, from Roma 8 Pty Ltd, the developer of the site, said his company is committed to neutralising the greenhouse effect on the environment by cutting carbon emissions.
He said Roma 8 will strive to build 51 independent living units for senior citizens by building Australia’s first carbon neutral independent living units.
Ararat’s Challicum Hills Wind Farm inspired Mr Calabro to become involved in carbon neutral developments.
‘‘My first introduction to alternative energy was when I came to Ararat two years ago to inspect the former Prestige Mill site,’’ he said.
‘‘The wind turbines in the approach to Ararat made an impression on me and on further discussion with the former Ararat Rural City CEO Bill Braithwaite, I was convinced that for the benefit of future generations we must reduce carbon emissions and source clean energy alternatives.
‘‘I want to do something to tackle climate change impact and I want to find out the best way to balance the unavoidable emissions caused by the construction of the 51 independent living units.’’
August 25, 2009: Ararat Rural City Council’s economic development and tourism unit has been ranked number one in provincial Victoria for the fifth year running.
The local unit has outscored all other economic development units in provincial local government areas since the inception of the State Government’s council services benchmarking survey five years ago.
Ararat’s economic development manager Clyde Humphries said the ranking was a ‘great achievement’ for the team as it was based on a survey of ratepayers.
‘‘It’s a tremendous validation of the excellent work the economic development and tourism staff do each day
when the people they are serving rate them so highly,’’ Mr Humphries said.
While acknowledging that 10 per cent fewer respondents described the unit’s performance as excellent than last year, he said the result still saw Ararat on par with some of the top inner metropolitan councils in terms of ratepayer approval.
‘‘In many ways, the slightly lower rating was expected,’’ Mr Humphries said.
‘‘This region has not been completely immune to the global economic downturn and when times get tough, ratepayers demand more of their council service providers.
August 23, 2011: Rail passengers using the Ararat line will now be allowed to remain on board at Ballarat while train sets are coupled together or divided.
Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said that he had resolved a longstanding annoyance for rail passengers using Ararat and Maryborough line trains with V/Line now agreeing to allow travellers to remain on board at Ballarat.
Mr Mulder said that previously, long distance train passengers arriving at Ballarat were routinely asked to leave the comfort of an air-conditioned or heated VLocity railcar and stand on what could be either a freezing cold or baking hot platform while trains from Ararat and Maryborough were amalgamated or those in the other direction divided at Ballarat.
“Some passengers did not want to leave the train to visit the Ballarat railway station’s refreshment rooms. Leaving their seat for up to 15 minutes was a major inconvenience for some senior citizens and others with limited mobility, mothers with prams and passengers with heavy backpacks,” he said.
Mr Mulder said that he was pleased that commonsense had finally prevailed.
August 28, 2012: Former Ararat Rural City mayor Andrea Marian will not be able to run for council for seven years after her appeal against sentence was rejected on Thursday.
Last December Ms Marian pleaded guilty to three conflict of interest charges in Ararat Magistrates’ Court.
She was convicted and fined $10,000 - the conviction ruling her out of running for public office until 2018.
Ms Marian was hoping to have her sentence made without conviction.
But Judge Sue Pullen told the County Court in Ballarat that any non-conviction finding would be ‘inappropriate’.
“I’m amazed. I don’t know how it could have crossed your mind that that was an appropriate way to conduct yourself as a councillor,” Judge Pullen said about the offence.
“Why weren’t there warning bells ringing ... why didn’t you just leave it alone?”
August 25, 2015: Just a week into construction of the Ararat Wind Farm and most agree the benefits are abundantly clear.
Principal contractor Downer has already signed contracts with local businesses to undertake work on the $450 million project.
Ararat Rural City Mayor, Cr Paul Hooper said
he has seen first hand a rise in community confidence and spirit.
"It's fantastic to see the physical benefits of the project coming to fruition especially the opportunities for local employment," he said.
"It is an industry that can only exist in a rural environment, why wouldn't you grab the jobs and economic benefits?
"Even though it is the quietest time of the year in Barkly Street, just talking to the average punter, there is a positive vibe.
"It is reward for Ararat for the stand it has taken to support RES and this project."