We are delighted to let members know that MBV's advocacy efforts have helped to ensure that building and construction can continue in Ballarat as that region moves out of lockdown tonight at 11:59pm, 22 September 2021.

Ballarat will move back to the COVIDSafe settings it was under before the lockdown, with no reasons required to leave the home and no limit on travel throughout regional Victoria.

However, there are still important public health restrictions in place. Masks must still be worn indoors and out. No one can come to your home to visit. And getting tested and vaccinated is just as important as ever.

You can’t travel to metropolitan Melbourne (or another regional Local Government Area currently in lockdown, such as Geelong or the Surf Coast) except for very limited reasons, including authorised work and permitted education, care and compassionate reasons, necessary goods and services and to visit your intimate partner.

Similarly, people from metropolitan Melbourne (or another area in lockdown) can’t come to Ballarat for anything other than the permitted reasons – and businesses are required to check IDs for addresses.

The authorised worker list no longer applies for attending work in Ballarat – but if you can work or study from home, you should continue to do so. Offices can permit staff to attend on site for work, with capacity limits. Childcare and kinder are open, as is outdoor community sports for training. Gyms are open with strict limits.

More information about the COVIDSafe settings the City of Ballarat will move to can be found here.

The Chief Health Officer has also advised that at 11.59pm tonight, those areas of Point Lonsdale located within in the City of Greater Geelong will be able to follow the same rules that apply to the Borough of Queenscliffe.