The Ballarat Independent.

Heart Foundation walkers and Sport Central Staff participating in Run Ballarat

“Councillors, be brave and reach for the sky.” Cr. Judy Verlin.

“Tell 'em they're dreamin'.” Daryl Kerrigan.

Daylight robbery of ratepayers could well be the last resort for Ballarat City Council if dreams for the Eureka Sports and Entertainment Precinct get out of hand. Some might say they already are.

Ballarat primary school pupils will battle it out in the pool this Sunday for a chance to take on western Victoria's best at the regional championships in Horsham next month.

But pupils are already at a disadvantage, and they haven't even stepped onto the blocks.

“Put bluntly, the case for upgrading the Northern Oval for AFL games seems incredibly thin.”

“...it is a story of discrete liaisons and commercial-in-confidence veils that shield this project from the public view.”

An iconic Ballarat bicycle store has been revived with an added dose of caffeine.

Two hundred and nine additional car parking spaces will be constructed at Prince of Wales Park.

Local company, Wayne Horne Earthmoving, was awarded the contract for the project this week.

Preliminary works have begun on the new Village Green at the Alfredton Recreation Reserve.

Appointed project contractors Turf One are setting up on site.

With three golf courses in Ballarat, Creswick and Buninyong next door, and a great selection of courses within reach, the average golfer in Ballarat is spoilt for choice, options and quality. With Spring upon us and Summer approaching, read on for a guide on where to tee up your next round.

With the start of the cricket season imminent, work is underway to install new cricket nets at the Marty Busch Recreation Reserve in Sebastopol.

The new nets consist of four runways - including one specifically for wicket keeping. They are being installed as part of the draft Marty Busch Recreation Reserve Master Plan, which is yet to be adopted by Council, but provides some agreed direction for the Reserve's ongoing development.

Ballarat has secured another major event coup with the inaugural Ballarat Triathlon MultiSport Festival and Under 23 State Championships to be held at Lake Wendouree later this year.

Hundreds of Competitors from across the state are expected to flock to the lake precinct for the event, which will take place on the last weekend of spring, November 26 and 27.

Ballarat will host the 2014 World Masters Rowing Championships, welcoming more than 10,000 competitors and spectators to the shores of Lake Wendouree.

Ballarat's successful bid was announced last night by FISA, the world rowing governing body, at the completion of the 2011 World Masters Rowing Championships in Slovenia.

Twenty six schools in Ballarat's Friendship District of Ainaro, Timor Leste, will receive tennis equipment as part of a project by the City of Ballarat's Friends of Ainaro Community Committee and the Wendouree Men's Shed.

A visit to Ainaro by self-confessed tennis enthusiast and Ballarat resident, Pauline Corcoran in 2009 has led to the development of an unlikely partnership. Although not a big part of the sporting scene in Timor Leste, Pauline felt that tennis would be a good sport for the Timorese to become involved with.

Ballarat's Eureka spirit will once again be celebrated at the fourth annual Eureka Game between AFL clubs Richmond and North Melbourne, to be held this Sunday 4 September, at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.

Six Ballarat locals from Ballarat Sebastopol Cycling Club join 250 international participants in the "Tour De Timor" mountain bike race to help promote tourism in Timor whilst raising money for the Timorese Solar Lighting Project.