Spotlight on investment promises after event scrapped

GEELONG leaders are hopeful promised infrastructure and housing investment will still bring lasting benefits to the region despite the state government’s shock decision to cancel the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The state government has vowed to deliver new and improved sporting facilities, and social housing investment for regional Victorian cities including Geelong under a repurposed $2 billion fund that had previously been budgeted to deliver the Games.

A new Armstrong Creek Aquatics Centre, indoor sporting complex at Waurn Ponds, and upgrades of hockey facilities at Stead Park, Corio and Banyul-Warri Fields will still go ahead under the changes.

There will be $1 billion to build 1,300 social housing properties across regional Victoria, though how the housing will be distributed is unknown.

An athlete’s village for just under 3,000 competitors and staff had been earmarked for Waurn Ponds during planning and would have been repurposed as affordable properties after the event.

South Barwon MP and Parliamentary Secretary for the Commonwealth Games Darren Cheeseman said the cash would “ensure regional Victoria receives all the benefits that would have been facilitated by the Games”.

“Delivering housing, tourism, and sporting infrastructure across regional Victoria was always our main motivation to host the Games.”

 

Geelong Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Jeremy Crawford said the local business community had “mixed reactions” to Tuesday’s revelation; disappointment at the cancellation combined with relief that the daunting, contracted runway to the event had cleared.

Mr Crawford said he also drew positives from the announcement that $2 billion in funding commitments would still flow to regional Victoria.

“Our focus from a business perspective is making sure that there’s going to be some significant investment into infrastructure and things like affordable housing. We’ll really be pushing to make sure that the government’s consulting with the right groups on what the region needs, not just what the Comm Games needed.”

G21 Geelong Regional Alliance said the news had come as a shock, with CEO Guilia Baggio indicating the organisation would shift focus to ensure effective and timely delivery of the $2 billion promise.

“An enormous amount of time, effort and money has been invested in and around Geelong for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, and this momentum must not be lost.

“We must refocus our energy on delivering the housing, transport and sporting infrastructure so desperately needed by our rapidly growing communities.”

City of Greater Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan called the decision a “very disappointing result” and called for more details about implementation of the Games funding.

“The legacy outcomes that the Games were to deliver to the Geelong community were vital in addressing our region’s growing need for social and affordable housing, and our sporting facilities.

“We welcome the government’s announcement that this vital infrastructure will still be prioritised, and we’re eagerly awaiting the details of exactly what they will fund and deliver.”

The State Opposition criticised the government’s decision, with Polwarth MP and housing spokesperson Richard Riordan raising issue with the proposed cost of housing.

“Country Victorians are shaking their heads as the Andrews Government announces that it will cancel the Games and replace them with the most expensive housing build.

“Again the most vulnerable will pay the price as the same Government who mismanaged the cost of the games is left to mismanage a housing build that is beyond their capacity.”