News Alert |

As one of the first acts of kindness under the ‘Be Kind Ballarat’ campaign the City of Ballarat will introduce free parking in the central business district between 11am -3pm weekdays and all-day Saturdays, effective 19 March.

A number of parking bays will also be designated drop-off pick-up parks for those food businesses who have taken an innovative approach to COVID-19, offering delivery and contactless pick-up for their customers.

Ballarat Mayor Cr Ben Taylor said it was important that people continue to support local businesses and 11am to 3pm is the busiest time in Ballarat’s CBD.

The City of Ballarat announced the Be Kind Ballarat initiative to encourage the Ballarat community to deliver random acts of kindness as a way of helping people through the uncertainty of the crisis.

‘We know many of our businesses are struggling, and we want to ensure our residents have the opportunity to support them as well as going about their daily business, meeting appointments and completing their shopping.

“We’ve made this a contactless transaction so there is no need to use the parking meters – just park and shop,” Cr Taylor said. “ This is a positive way Council can assist our community to help one another."

This ‘act of kindness’ (free parking) will remain in place indefinitely.