The good denizens of Ballarat will be forgiven for being a little sick of the sight of politicians in the coming weeks, with the Labor and Liberal parties zeroing in on the city offering everything from hospital beds to footy in their quest for votes.
The three seats in the Ballarat area – Buninyong, Wendouree and Ripon – are all held by Labor but are seen as crucial marginal electorates that could decide the Victorian election on 29 November.
The big parties are doing what political parties often do in such situations and hurling clumps of money at Ballarat voters.
Labor has pledged $25m to revamp Ballarat’s derelict train station precinct to include an exhibition space. In a slightly more glamorous pledge, the opposition party has also promised to bring the Western Bulldogs AFL team to the city by 2017.
This would happen via a $31.5m upgrade to the Eureka stadium, allowing the Bulldogs to play at least two games there each season. If Labor wins, that is.
The Coalition, which is facing an uphill battle to retain power if the polls are accurate, will spend $83m on expanding Ballarat’s hospital, adding about 90 beds.
Ballarat will also have the pleasure of welcoming Denis Napthine et al on Sunday, when the Liberals launch their election campaign.
While some regional areas of Victoria are struggling with unemployment and other social ills, the trio of marginal seats in Ballarat means that the city, about 100km north-west of Melbourne, is getting some welcome attention.
“I can only be happy with the amount of attention we are receiving,” said local councillor and former musician Glen Crompton. “You’d be naive to think we are getting the attention for any other reason but you just hope whoever wins comes in and delivers.”
Crompton, who is recovering from an eye injury, added: “Revitalising the station and the hospital precincts would be very welcome. That said, I don’t think there’s anything about putting in an eye specialist that would save me a 240km round trip.
“In terms of who will win, I’m probably the last bloke to ask. I’m equally cynical about both parties.”
