City’s plea for fed funding to deliver Games

The City of Greater Geelong council will likely have to wait until May to find out if Canberra will contribute funding for delivery of the 2026 Commonwealth Games after deputy mayor Anthony Aitken claimed the city “can’t afford” the sporting showcase.

The federal government is yet to commit funding for the Games, and says it is waiting on details from the state government about how projects will provide long-term benefits for communities.

The City of Greater Geelong’s financial shortfalls received national attention when Cr Aitken, who is also the city’s finance portfolio chair, shared his grim assessment of quarterly financial statements at last week’s council meeting.

The reports, which covered the present financial year to December, indicated the city was on track to record an operating deficit of $1.4 million this year.

The city had celebrated that its budget was due to return to surplus for the first time since COVID-19 when it forecasted its 2022-23 budget last year.

The non-recurrent result is also down $28.7 million down on earlier projections.

Councillors said the figures reflected worsening economic conditions caused by inflation and rising construction costs.

Cr Aitken said the deteriorating position would put Geelong’s role in contributing to the Games at risk.

“This isn’t good news. It’s a reflection of the environment we’re working under as the City of Greater Geelong, and indeed all governments are.

“Geelong council wholeheatedly support the delivery of the Commonwealth Games… this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the council and the community. But our latest financial results indicate, sadly, we can’t afford it.”

Cr Aitken said financial contributions from the federal government would likely be needed for Geelong to meet its public infrastructure requirements for the 2026 event.

Federal Infrastructure Minister and Ballarat MP Catherine King said the federal government was waiting on more details from Victoria before making a funding commitment.

“I think the [Victorian] Premier has written to the Prime Minister about an ask and we haven’t got a detailed ask on the table yet.

We’re awaiting that at the moment.

I think largely the issue will be around legacy for us and particularly in terms of the athletes’ villages and what legacy that might leave around social and affordable housing, but again I don’t have anything before me.”

The next Federal Budget is set to be released in May.