With Games gone opportunities lost and won

THE cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria came as quite a shock to many in the community.

CEO of Be.Bendigo, Rob Herbert, said he was disappointed with the announcement.

“It’s that missed opportunity for what was going to be a unique showcase event for regional Victoria on the international stage,” he said.

“But then our attention’s quickly turned to what are the opportunities in the future.

Now the deadline of the Games is not a factor, there are concerns that projects promised as part of the event, and still going ahead, may see completion times dragged out.

Mr Herbert said he is hoping the Government will provide updates on the details surrounding funding soon.

“If that means taking up more time around design, planning, etcetera, it creates a longer leading time, then we’ll need to understand what that looks like,” he said.

“I don’t necessarily think all these things were front and centre before the Comm Games announcement, I think that’s the positive.”

One of the sports Bendigo was to host was netball at Red Energy Arena, and Golden City Netball Association utilises the precinct’s outdoor courts.

Association president Rachel Thomsen said the loss of the Games was both “a shame” for the showcasing of the sport, and for the spotlight which would have been shone on the city.

“Bendigo is I think definitely one of the largest netball communities outside of the metropolitan areas in Victoria, and has a huge following,” she said.

“Whenever you’re going to host any sort of international sport, there’s always that positive outcome as far as showcasing the sport and riding along with the publicity of it to enhance participation, so that’s really sad I think for the sport and for our local community.”

Following the announcement of the Games cancellation, Premier Daniel Andrews reviled further spending on social and low-income housing in Victoria.

Matt Parkinson from social housing service Mad Cow said the organisation is looking forward to the details of the increased accommodation plans.

At the moment, Mr Parkinson said Mad Cow is assisting about 100 rough sleepers, and providing over 70 of them food, showers, clothes, and laundry facilities regularly.

“We need it, we need the housing. The need is overwhelming at all levels,” he said.