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Cities and governments will always moan about costs, I think that we all accept that as a given fact of life. In the current inflationary environment we should expect that there will be significant cost increases for construction, labour and in Victoria a significant shortage of builders with many engaged with Dan's "Big Build" projects in Melbourne. Further, you'd be ignorant to not assume that asbestos is likely to be found in any land that was formerly occupied by buildings built between 1920-1985. Asbestos was used in virtually every building in Australia during that time. The former Ballarat sale yards were used for over 140 years until about five years ago. Most of the bluestone pavers that served over its 140 year lifetime are being lifted and re-used for pathways throughout the village while the remainder are being re-cycled to pave Ballarat's Bridge Street refurbishment. I don't think that anybody is expecting anything too sinister or nasty to surface beneath the old pavers. There are only a handful of buildings left (probably with asbestos in them) and the rest is just either concrete slabs or large swathes of bluestone paving. The handful of buildings left on the site are going to be re-purposed so there will be asbestos removal involved with those. That said, there wouldn't be too much below the saleyards site except old electrical conduits (probably insulated with asbestos), water pipes and old stormwater drainage. I think that the accommodation aspect is largely a storm in a teacup. Ballarat and Bendigo both have accommodation for about 4-5000 people and are both building new hotels that will add another 1000 each. Geelong has significant capacity when you also account for accommodation in its surrounding coastal towns on the Bellarine Peninsula and along its surf coast. To be realistic, how many international visitors does a Comm Games really bring in? I think that Jerome Weimar nailed it in stating that most will likely use Melbourne as the hub and travel out to Gippsland one day and Geelong the next. My personnel prediction is that public transport will be the biggest challenge for planners in consideration that private cars cannot be parked within 1 km of a stadium. This means that there will be a lot of ferrying of spectators to and from designated parking zones and railway stations. Still absolutely no word as to whether a railway platform is to be built near Mars Stadium. The midland highway adjacent to mars Stadium is designated to be closed which will force a lot of traffic to re-route during the Games.

Commonwealth Games 2026: Ballarat mayor Des Hudson says city balancing budget By Melanie Wheelan: Ballarat Courier CITY of Ballarat mayor Des Hudson says it is too early to tell estimate the financial impact of hosting the Commonwealth Games, despite complaints from Geelong that it "can't afford" the honour. Cr Hudson said the city was experiencing increased cost pressures across multiple areas due to rising inflation "like all local government areas across the country. The City of Ballarat is always faced with balancing competing priorities, this is being made more challenging in an inflationary environment," Cr Hudson said. He said City of Ballarat was still working through its budget for the upcoming financial year. City of Greater Geelong mayor Trent Sullivan and deputy mayor Anthony Aitken, who manages that city's finance portfolio, have both flagged rate rises and increased borrowing to deliver on Geelong's 2026 Commonwealth Games hosting duties. However, at least four state Labor members of parliament and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flagged last June a lack of confidence in the City of Greater Geelong to deliver what was needed due to alleged project mismanagement, according to ABC News. Geelong's Kardinia Park is set to host the Games' closing ceremony and competitions in hockey, swimming, diving, beach volleyball, cricket, gymnastics, the triathlon and weightlifting. The regional Victorian Games are to be co-hosted across Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Gippsland. Ballarat will be home to the athletics program, including the marathon, from Eureka Stadium (Commercially known as Mars Stadium). The city will also host boxing at the Ballarat Sports Events Centre (AKA Selkirk Stadium) and mountain biking in Creswick. The Courier understands most of the infrastructure spending will be borne by the State Government. Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas told ABC News while not expecting a matching contribution from Geelong City Council, the government did expect a substantial contribution from a city set to be a "big beneficiary" of the Games. Meanwhile, expressions of interest open this month for the roadworks and other civil construction related to the Ballarat athletes' village. This is separate to the tender for the planned housing. Athletes' village construction is set to include bulk earthworks, installation of new drains and sewers, the relocation of existing services such as power, gas and water, construction of new roads, upgrades to existing roads, and general demolition and clearing works. The Ballarat athlete's village will be built on the former saleyards in Delacombe, and will contain an estimated 301 new houses and town houses, ranging from one to four bedrooms. Work on the village is set to begin this year and must be completed by September 2025. A massive infrastructure spend is currently in the planning stages, including a new overpass at Ballarat station, and expansion at Eureka Stadium.

So just today ..... Geelong can't afford the games Ballarat Athlete Village site full of asbestos The failed Train Conductor telling potential spectators not to stay overnight in Regional Victoria but do "day trips" from Melbourne instead due to lack of accomodation W-H-A-T-A-J-O-K-E

We already had one miracle with Milan/Cortina, I keep emphasizing that and I think people forget it. Olympic fans were EXTREMELY fortunate that Italy swooped in with a last second bid for the 2026 games because that was equally dire. Without Italy 2026 would have been in a big deal of hurt. I Know the whispers around the casuals are getting louder for A-town to make another play. They may be needed..... But A-town isn't USA, Canada, Europe. They dont have the experience to pull something together that fast. If you're going to get Almaty in on it, you gotta get them on board to try this summer.

stadecocks.....that is my quote...did you mean to add something?