Open Letter to BREAZE members and friends

9 May 2025. 

Dear Members and Friends,

I’m writing to share the full story behind the end of BREAZE’s Community Partnerships Program (CPP) agreement with the City of Ballarat — a decision made by Council on 20 February 2025 that has had significant consequences for our work and our organisation.

Over the past three months, BREAZE has met with Council on multiple occasions in an effort to resolve the dispute and reinstate the contract on reasonable terms. Despite our good-faith negotiations, it became clear that Council was unwilling to address the serious issues we raised — including concerns about contract management, due process, and transparency.

Council proposed a resolution that we believe failed to acknowledge their own contractual breaches. We responded with a counteroffer, which was declined. Council then recommended mediation — a process that could take months, carry significant costs, and require confidentiality, further restricting our ability to speak openly with you, our members and supporters.

After careful consideration, we formally advised Council on 6 May 2025 that we would not pursue mediation and would accept termination of the agreement. This was not an easy decision. However, it allows BREAZE to move forward, free from further delay or compromise, and to refocus on the community-based climate action we exist to deliver.

To be clear: this outcome does not imply agreement with Council’s decision. BREAZE considers the termination to be unjustified and believes that key concerns — including those relating to due process and fairness — were never adequately addressed by Council.

We also reject, unequivocally, any suggestion that BREAZE has supported or endorsed discriminatory views of any kind. BREAZE is a proudly inclusive, volunteer-led organisation that adheres to all relevant laws and operates under the Model Rules recommended by the Victorian Government.

At the heart of this issue was Council’s insistence on onerous new conditions for reinstating funding — including changes to our governance rules that would have required us to affirm a position that we believe misrepresented our values and record. We could not in good conscience agree to those terms.

The situation raises broader concerns about the precedent being set. In this case, Council acted on the basis of a volunteer’s private social media activity — unrelated to any BREAZE project — and used that as grounds to end a funding agreement. This prompts serious questions: Will all community organisations be subject to scrutiny of individual members’ personal views? What safeguards exist to ensure decisions are proportionate, consistent, and respectful of civil discourse?

Despite this challenging chapter, BREAZE is focused firmly on the future. We remain committed to helping households across the Ballarat region reduce living costs, increase comfort, and transition to a cleaner, more sustainable lifestyle. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be launching new initiatives and providing opportunities for you — our members and community — to help shape our next steps.

I want to acknowledge the exceptional work of our Board and office bearers throughout this process. Their commitment, integrity, and perseverance have been outstanding. And to all of you who’ve supported BREAZE during this time — thank you. Your encouragement has meant the world.

We will continue to stand up for what is right, to act ethically, and to protect the good name of this organisation. Our mission hasn’t changed — if anything, it’s more important than ever.

Kindest regards,

Peta Guy, President, BREAZE