Questions remain about stadium switch

ARMSTRONG Creek was in line to receive two sporting stadiums as recently as May, but will now only get one.

The state and federal government are declining to explain the change, and have directed inquiries about the issue to each other.

A regional-level indoor high ball centre was first pledged to Armstrong Creek ahead of the 2022 federal election, with Corangamite federal member Libby Coker committing $6 million toward the project.

But earlier this year, the future of the stadium appeared to be in doubt after the project disappeared from the federal government’s list of projects to be funded under its Priority Community Infrastructure Program.

The funds were ultimately recommitted to the project in May’s federal budget, but with no funding allocated to the stadium in the state government’s budget, the pathway towards its construction remained uncertain.

However, the state government’s budget did include a commitment to build an indoor sports centre in Armstrong Creek as part of the Geelong Sports Package, the legacy infrastructure package announced alongside the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

While the indoor sports centre served as a replacement to the now-cancelled Armstrong Creek aquatic centre – initially promised to the region under the same infrastructure package – during a visit to Stead Park on May 21, Victorian Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence differentiated between the two Armstrong Creek stadiums, stating they were different projects.

Earlier this month, the state government announced it was moving forward with its plans to construct the indoor sports centre, opening an expression of interest process to secure a contractor for the build.

Ms Coker celebrated the announcement as an election commitment milestone, making it clear that Armstrong Creek would now only receive one facility.

Exactly when and why the decision was made to combine the projects remains unclear, as both the state and federal governments recommended questions be directed to the other.

A Victorian government spokesperson said the development of the Armstrong Creek Sports Centre was one of 15 sporting infrastructure projects being delivered across the state as part of the Regional Sports Infrastructure Program.

“The Armstrong Creek Sports Centre will be one sports centre with four indoor multi-sport courts, a civic plaza and car parking for the community,” the spokesperson said.

Ms Coker said the new indoor sports centre was going to be “amazing”, providing a rapidly growing Armstrong Creek with “much-needed sporting facilities” for “lots and lots of local families”.