Ballarat Council Closes Ring Road for New Intermodal Freight Hub

Ballarat City Council has formally supported closing the Ring Road at the rail level crossing in Mitchell Park. The move clears the path for the Intermodal Freight Hub and stops freight trains from blocking local traffic.

The decision forms part of broader updates delivered at the first council meeting of 2026. Councillors also awarded a $17.54 million tender for the Eastwood Leisure Complex redevelopment to local firm Nicholson Construction. They chose St Patrick’s Point at Lake Wendouree for a new $240,000 public toilet after hearing from more than 2,267 residents during consultation.

Community safety and heritage fund updates

Two notices of motion passed at the meeting target illegal hoon driving and vandalism. Staff must now prepare reports on what actions fall within the council’s current powers and draft a civil restitution policy. An expression of interest process has also opened to find a new trustee arrangement for Her Majesty’s Theatre Trust funds, prompted by changes to Australian Tax Office rules.

These steps follow directly from the March 2026 meeting agenda and the council’s public Facebook post outlining the outcomes. The measures address immediate infrastructure needs while setting timelines for further reports and tender processes.

Next steps for residents and projects

Work on the Ring Road change and freight hub alignment will proceed once formal approvals are finalised. The Eastwood Leisure Complex tender moves to contract stage with Nicholson Construction, while the Lake Wendouree toilet design advances from the endorsed location. Residents can follow updates on the council’s website or social channels for the hoon driving and vandalism reports, expected later in 2026, and for the outcome of the Her Majesty’s Theatre Trust expression of interest.

The council’s actions keep several long-running projects on track without introducing new spending outside the figures already approved at the meeting.