General News
20 July, 2023
Victorian Commonwealth Games scrapped
Regional Victoria will no longer host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after new costings blew out previous budget estimates, Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Tuesday, and local councils have voiced their shock and disappointment at the decision. The...
Regional Victoria will no longer host the 2026 Commonwealth Games after new costings blew out previous budget estimates, Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Tuesday, and local councils have voiced their shock and disappointment at the decision.
The Games would’ve have cost more than $6-7 billion to host according to the Premier — above the original $2.6 billion estimate and more than twice the estimated economic benefit to the state.
Mr Andrews said the bill was too high to foot and that the State Government has advised the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Australia that the state will be terminating the Host Agreement.
“We were pleased to be asked to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games — but not at any price. I think all Victorians would agree that more than $6 billion is just too much,” he said.
Regional Victoria was set to be highlighted during the Games, with events to be spread across Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Gippsland and Shepparton.
Facility upgrades and developments were also slated in the regional towns to accommodate the Games, however Premier Andrews said those projects will still be delivered.
Sporting infrastructure, housing and tourism upgrades and developments were also slated in the regional towns to accommodate the Games, and Premier Andrews said a $2 billion package will deliver those same benefits, despite the cancellation.
The package includes a $150 million Regional Tourism and Events Fund, and a $1 billion Regional Housing Fund to deliver more than 1300 new homes across regional Victoria, including a mix of social and affordable housing.
A long list of permanent sporting infrastructure will also be delivered including a new athletics track and stadium expansion at Ballarat’s Eureka Stadium, 60 kilometres of mountain bike trails at Creswick, four additional sports courts at Bendigo Stadium, and the redevelopment of the Bendigo Bowls Club.
The Central Goldfields Shire Council had been angling to attract some of the Commonwealth Games tourism to the shire, and CEO Lucy Roffey said it was a disappointing result.
“Central Goldfields is located between Bendigo and Ballarat and our accommodation and hospitality businesses would have benefited from the games with participants and visitors moving between to the two locations either to attend events or through tourism in the region,” she said.
“We are therefore disappointed that the games have been cancelled.
“However, we hope to benefit from the regional investments announced by the State Government in housing, tourism and sporting infrastructure. We will work closely with the State Government to ensure that we maximise opportunities for the community to benefit from these investments.”
Hepburn Shire Council — which had been set to host mountain biking events in Creswick — expressed their own disappointment at the “shock decision”.
“While we understand and appreciate the financial challenges faced by all levels of government, we are extremely disappointed that regional Victoria will no longer host the games,” mayor Brian Hood said.
“Economic pressures are being felt at all levels of government and across the community.
“We acknowledge the Victorian Government’s announcement of the cancellation also comes with a regional support package, which we anticipate will bring other desperately needed benefits for our shire and we look forward to further detail on this.”