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18 minutes ago, Lord David said:

 If you must do this because no one else wants it, then make it Geelong, with Ballarat and Bendigo. No need to have it all the way out in Gippsland.

 

Geelong:

Athletics (and Ceremonies) at Kardinia Park (30,000-36,000)

Aquatics (including Diving) at Kardinia Park Aquatics Centre (5,000/2,000)

Netball at Kardinia Park Netball Centre (2,000-3,000, with a temporary/permanent roof)

 

Field Hockey at Hockey Geelong (3,000-5,000)

Lawn Bowls at Geelong Lawn Bowls Club (1,000-2,000)

Table Tennis at Table Tennis Geelong (1,000-2,000)

Badminton at Geelong Arena (2,000)

Weightlifting at Costa Hall (1,397)

 

Beach Volleyball - Temporary

Triathlon - Temporary

Marathon - Temporary

 

Ballarat:

Basketball at Selkirk Stadium (3,000)

Cricket at Mars Stadium (10,000-20,000)

Rugby 7's at Ballarat City Football Club (5,000-10,000)

Boxing at Ballarat Minerdome (2,000)

Track Cycling at Sebastopol Cycling Track (2,000)

BMX at Sebastopol BMX Club (2,000)  

Shooting                                               

Walks - Temporary

 

 

Bendigo:

Gymnastics at Bendigo Stadium (4,000)   

Squash at  Bendigo Exhibition Centre (1,000)     

Road Cycling - Temporary       

Mountain Biking - Temporary

 

 

Extensive use of temporary stands at existing venues. There's absolutely no need to have Gippsland venues, it's just too far away. If you're not going to have it in Melbourne, then just use Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Are you seriously trying to change what’s already been announced?

It’s not up for debate. 

The MCG Melbourne will host the Opening Ceremony and, yes, Gippsland is one of the four regional hubs already announced with it’s own athletes village.

Mars Stadium in Ballarat is hosting athletics.

Check out this video, you’ll see a glimpse of an upgraded Mars Stadium with temporary grandstands

 

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xx

 

34 minutes ago, Lord David said:

 If you must do this because no one else wants it, then make it Geelong, with Ballarat and Bendigo. No need to have it all the way out in Gippsland.

Geelong:

Athletics (and Ceremonies) at Kardinia Park (30,000-36,000)

Aquatics (including Diving) at Kardinia Park Aquatics Centre (5,000/2,000)

Netball at Kardinia Park Netball Centre (2,000-3,000, with a temporary/permanent roof)

Field Hockey at Hockey Geelong (3,000-5,000)

Lawn Bowls at Geelong Lawn Bowls Club (1,000-2,000)

Table Tennis at Table Tennis Geelong (1,000-2,000)

Badminton at Geelong Arena (2,000)

Weightlifting at Costa Hall (1,397)

Beach Volleyball - Temporary

Triathlon - Temporary

Marathon - Temporary

Ballarat:

Basketball at Selkirk Stadium (3,000)

Cricket at Mars Stadium (10,000-20,000)

Rugby 7's at Ballarat City Football Club (5,000-10,000)

Boxing at Ballarat Minerdome (2,000)

Track Cycling at Sebastopol Cycling Track (2,000)

BMX at Sebastopol BMX Club (2,000)  

Shooting                                               

Walks - Temporary

Bendigo:

Gymnastics at Bendigo Stadium (4,000)   

Squash at  Bendigo Exhibition Centre (1,000)     

Road Cycling - Temporary       

Mountain Biking - Temporary

Extensive use of temporary stands at existing venues. There's absolutely no need to have Gippsland venues, it's just too far away. If you're not going to have it in Melbourne, then just use Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

 

4 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

Are you seriously trying to change what’s already been announced?

It’s not up for debate. 

The MCG Melbourne will host the Opening Ceremony and, yes, Gippsland is one of the four regional hubs already announced with it’s own athletes village.

Mars Stadium in Ballarat is hosting athletics.

Check out this video, you’ll see a glimpse of an upgraded Mars Stadium with temporary grandstands

 

 

….  and this media report 

 

 

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8 hours ago, Lord David said:

 If you must do this because no one else wants it, then make it Geelong, with Ballarat and Bendigo. No need to have it all the way out in Gippsland.

 

Geelong:

Athletics (and Ceremonies) at Kardinia Park (30,000-36,000)

Aquatics (including Diving) at Kardinia Park Aquatics Centre (5,000/2,000)

Netball at Kardinia Park Netball Centre (2,000-3,000, with a temporary/permanent roof)

 

Field Hockey at Hockey Geelong (3,000-5,000)

Lawn Bowls at Geelong Lawn Bowls Club (1,000-2,000)

Table Tennis at Table Tennis Geelong (1,000-2,000)

Badminton at Geelong Arena (2,000)

Weightlifting at Costa Hall (1,397)

 

Beach Volleyball - Temporary

Triathlon - Temporary

Marathon - Temporary

 

Ballarat:

Basketball at Selkirk Stadium (3,000)

Cricket at Mars Stadium (10,000-20,000)

Rugby 7's at Ballarat City Football Club (5,000-10,000)

Boxing at Ballarat Minerdome (2,000)

Track Cycling at Sebastopol Cycling Track (2,000)

BMX at Sebastopol BMX Club (2,000)  

Shooting                                               

Walks - Temporary

 

 

Bendigo:

Gymnastics at Bendigo Stadium (4,000)   

Squash at  Bendigo Exhibition Centre (1,000)     

Road Cycling - Temporary       

Mountain Biking - Temporary

 

 

Extensive use of temporary stands at existing venues. There's absolutely no need to have Gippsland venues, it's just too far away. If you're not going to have it in Melbourne, then just use Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.

Sorry but these events are for the whole of Victoria not just the western country towns.. that is why Gippsland is hosting

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9 hours ago, Lord David said:

If you must do this because no one else wants it, then make it Geelong, with Ballarat and Bendigo. No need to have it all the way out in Gippsland.

That is a highly negative statement. "Nobody else wants it". That is simply not true! You make it sound as if everyone is abandoning the idea of the Games. There are two reasons presently that nations are baulking at hosting the Commonwealth and even the Olympic Games.

Firstly cost. The Olympics have spiralled out of control in terms of moneys invested to build stadiums and infrastructure only to leave many cities with a legacy of white elephants not to mention the actual cost of housing and accommodating 15,000 visitors (athletes and support persons) on top of security costs. The IOC realised that it was becoming unaffordable and many potential bidders were suddenly withdrawing bids once the realities of costs started to sink in leaving few if any bidders, hence LA, Paris and Brisbane were locked in years in advance with Brisbane to become the testing ground of the new model of a significantly downsized Olympic Games. The Gabba in 2032 will be the smallest main Olympic Stadium since Amsterdam in 1928. Brisbane will be farming out more events into the the far flung regions than any Games before it.

Secondly pandemic. If it escaped your attention, there has been a little global event recently where governments of the developed nations have spent trillions propping up economies by supporting out of work masses through lockdowns, immunisation programs, and recovery stimulus packages. This has added hundreds of billions in debt to all of the individual G20 economies. There are few countries in the world as at 2022 who would be willing to consider taking on new debt. That doesn't mean that countries like South Africa, New Zealand, Canada or in the UK aren't interested, they simply are not in a position at the present time to put up $3 billion to host a Comm Games.

Overall, there was a great response from across the the Commonwealth of relief when Victoria stepped in to host the 2026 Games. That doesn't suggest to me that people don't want the Games to prevail, it's just that at the present time money is very tight and money was the key reason that Durban withdrew from hosting 2022 back in 2019. At the end of the day the Games will survive and prevail as long as they are kept affordable and manageable.

The 2026 model will be a test of an exercise of reducing costs, not going overboard on large infrastructure in one city, but leaving great targeted infrastructure improvements across a number of cities and regions. The legacy for regional Victoria won't be the building of great stadiums, but more one of improving and expanding existing facilities and promoting high level sports in the regions. It will leave a legacy of improved regional transport and the addition of much needed social housing.

 

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6 hours ago, RooBlu said:

That is a highly negative statement. "Nobody else wants it". That is simply not true! You make it sound as if everyone is abandoning the idea of the Games. There are two reasons presently that nations are baulking at hosting the Commonwealth and even the Olympic Games.

Firstly cost. The Olympics have spiralled out of control in terms of moneys invested to build stadiums and infrastructure only to leave many cities with a legacy of white elephants not to mention the actual cost of housing and accommodating 15,000 visitors (athletes and support persons) on top of security costs. The IOC realised that it was becoming unaffordable and many potential bidders were suddenly withdrawing bids once the realities of costs started to sink in leaving few if any bidders, hence LA, Paris and Brisbane were locked in years in advance with Brisbane to become the testing ground of the new model of a significantly downsized Olympic Games. The Gabba in 2032 will be the smallest main Olympic Stadium since Amsterdam in 1928. Brisbane will be farming out more events into the the far flung regions than any Games before it.

Secondly pandemic. If it escaped your attention, there has been a little global event recently where governments of the developed nations have spent trillions propping up economies by supporting out of work masses through lockdowns, immunisation programs, and recovery stimulus packages. This has added hundreds of billions in debt to all of the individual G20 economies. There are few countries in the world as at 2022 who would be willing to consider taking on new debt. That doesn't mean that countries like South Africa, New Zealand, Canada or in the UK aren't interested, they simply are not in a position at the present time to put up $3 billion to host a Comm Games.

Overall, there was a great response from across the the Commonwealth of relief when Victoria stepped in to host the 2026 Games. That doesn't suggest to me that people don't want the Games to prevail, it's just that at the present time money is very tight and money was the key reason that Durban withdrew from hosting 2022 back in 2019. At the end of the day the Games will survive and prevail as long as they are kept affordable and manageable.

The 2026 model will be a test of an exercise of reducing costs, not going overboard on large infrastructure in one city, but leaving great targeted infrastructure improvements across a number of cities and regions. The legacy for regional Victoria won't be the building of great stadiums, but more one of improving and expanding existing facilities and promoting high level sports in the regions. It will leave a legacy of improved regional transport and the addition of much needed social housing.

 

If you want to actually reduce costs, just have it in Melbourne! Do an Innsbruck 1976 where all you need to build is the athletes village.

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2 hours ago, Lord David said:

If you want to actually reduce costs, just have it in Melbourne! Do an Innsbruck 1976 where all you need to build is the athletes village.

The whole idea is to stimulate sport, tourism and the Regional Victoria economies by hosting and showcasing these areas.

It has nothing at all to do with what ready-to-go CWG venues are in Melbourne.

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4 hours ago, Lord David said:

If you want to actually reduce costs, just have it in Melbourne! Do an Innsbruck 1976 where all you need to build is the athletes village.

So riddle me this? What does Victoria as a whole benefit out of Melbourne hosting yet another major event? Melbourne already gets disproportionate billions invested into its infrastructure and is going to get another billion to replace a 30 year old grandstand at the MCG that really doesn't need replacing. The city is about to have $50 billion spent building the suburban rail loop, while there has already been $5 billion spent on the new underground rail tunnel, another $2.5 billion on the Westgate tunnels and the $4 billion spent so far removing level crossings. Let's not forget the $750 million spent upgrading Melbourne Park and the $350 million about to be spent on Marvel Stadium. Then there's the $65 million to build a 3000 seat grandstand at Punt Road oval which doesn't even host AFL anymore, meanwhile you'd have Ballarat being made to feel guilty about asking for $53 million to turn its 11,000 capacity AFL stadium into a 20,000 capacity AFL, cricket and events centre where at least 2AFL games do get played each year?

Then of course Melbourne hosts the F1 Grand Prix, fully funded by VICTORIA (not just Melbourne) for the last 26 years and it in no way benefits anything outside Melbourne. Remember that EVERY so-called State subsidised Melbourne major event is 25% subsidised by regional Victorians, because they (regional Victorians) pay rates, taxes, stamp duties and GST too.

Meanwhile the Goulburn Valley Highway to Shepparton is riddled with ruts and potholes.

Let's face it, without regional Victoria in particular Bendigo and Ballarat, Melbourne would never have boomed in the 19th century. Melbourne would be a shadow of what it is today without those two cities and don't you forgt it! Today Melbourne would arguably be just Adelaide without the massive kick start of the gold rush. Melbourne owes a huge debt to regional Victoria and considering the hundreds of billions invested there today (25% of that being regional Victorian moneys too), I think that $2.6 billion to spend building infrastructure and putting on an event in regional Victoria is the very least that the Victorian Government can do. The very least that the people of Melbourne can do is to get behind us as we have consistently done over the years for their events.

So suck it up. 25% of Victorians live outside Melbourne and 585,000 of them live in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and the tri-cities of the Latrobe Valley. It's THEIR time to shine.

 

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2 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Ballarat City Council must believe they have a chance to host rowing in 2026?

Meanwhile, Strathbogie Shire Council is advocating for Lake Nagambie.

 

No you are misquoting. The decision to shift the masters rowing to Ballarat from WA was made six months ago when WA were locked down indefinitely, nothing more, nothing less. The full article in the Ballarat Courier only references rowing and the Comm Games in the context that the city has the capacity to stage and manage world class sporting events (the Masters Rowing in this instance). This wasn't a pitch to host rowing, although it would be a beautiful rowing venue, rowing would benefit Nagambie more.

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21 hours ago, RooBlu said:

So riddle me this? What does Victoria as a whole benefit out of Melbourne hosting yet another major event? Melbourne already gets disproportionate billions invested into its infrastructure and is going to get another billion to replace a 30 year old grandstand at the MCG that really doesn't need replacing. The city is about to have $50 billion spent building the suburban rail loop, while there has already been $5 billion spent on the new underground rail tunnel, another $2.5 billion on the Westgate tunnels and the $4 billion spent so far removing level crossings. Let's not forget the $750 million spent upgrading Melbourne Park and the $350 million about to be spent on Marvel Stadium. Then there's the $65 million to build a 3000 seat grandstand at Punt Road oval which doesn't even host AFL anymore, meanwhile you'd have Ballarat being made to feel guilty about asking for $53 million to turn its 11,000 capacity AFL stadium into a 20,000 capacity AFL, cricket and events centre where at least 2AFL games do get played each year?

Then of course Melbourne hosts the F1 Grand Prix, fully funded by VICTORIA (not just Melbourne) for the last 26 years and it in no way benefits anything outside Melbourne. Remember that EVERY so-called State subsidised Melbourne major event is 25% subsidised by regional Victorians, because they (regional Victorians) pay rates, taxes, stamp duties and GST too.

Meanwhile the Goulburn Valley Highway to Shepparton is riddled with ruts and potholes.

Let's face it, without regional Victoria in particular Bendigo and Ballarat, Melbourne would never have boomed in the 19th century. Melbourne would be a shadow of what it is today without those two cities and don't you forgt it! Today Melbourne would arguably be just Adelaide without the massive kick start of the gold rush. Melbourne owes a huge debt to regional Victoria and considering the hundreds of billions invested there today (25% of that being regional Victorian moneys too), I think that $2.6 billion to spend building infrastructure and putting on an event in regional Victoria is the very least that the Victorian Government can do. The very least that the people of Melbourne can do is to get behind us as we have consistently done over the years for their events.

So suck it up. 25% of Victorians live outside Melbourne and 585,000 of them live in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and the tri-cities of the Latrobe Valley. It's THEIR time to shine.

 

Umm, you host the games no one else wanted for next to nothing? And ensure it makes a profit? No need to build any new arenas and general infrastructure projects are being done anyways.

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41 minutes ago, Lord David said:

Umm, you host the games no one else wanted for next to nothing? And ensure it makes a profit? No need to build any new arenas and general infrastructure projects are being done anyways.

Well Lord Haw Haw it's like this. $2.6 billion might seem like milk money to you, but its not "next to nothing" to us, and it's far more money than what gets spent on regional infrastructure in a short space of time. Your second point proves that you understand nothing about the regions. Do you have any idea what a regional area has to go through just to get an indoor sports stadium built (ask Shepparton), or a runway reseal at a local airport? Have you any idea how long it has taken to reinstate train services to places like Ararat and Maryborough since they were closed down by a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne (Jeff Kennett) in 1993? Mildura, a city of 50,000 has been waiting 25 years to get a passenger train service reinstated.

Yes infrastructure projects do get "done anyways" but what might be considered a very small project by Melbourne standards, people in the bush wait patiently for years, even decades to see happen. So yes they get "done anyways", but at glacial speed. The Ballarat Council did a Masterplan for what was termed the Ballarat Major Events Precinct in 2015. It laid out what they projected (on 2015 levels of government and Ballarat city funding) would be completed by 2040. The Comm Games will see the vision realised by 2026.

The funding for the Ballarat Sports Events Centre (AKA Selkirk Stadium) took ten years of litteral begging to secure $9 million from the State Government and another 2 years after that to secure $10 million from the Federal Government. When the Ballarat Council (who'd already chipped in the land and another $6 million) and Basketball Ballarat finally were granted the Federal money they were apparently supposed to (to quote Dan Andrews in reference to how Victoria gets Federal infrastructure funding) "bow their heads in gratitude like it was some sort of foreign aid".

So Lord Haw Haw, we pay taxes too and we are entitled to our share (25%) of State Government spending. Now the Games have been awarded; if you have a problem with the decision, then I suggest that you write a sternly worded letter to your State Member of Parliament expressing your solemn concern, and that you stop dropping your little hand grenades and pointless complaints here. Nobody's interested. And frankly I'm being very charitable in this post by giving you the dignity of response! Here in you are ignored!

Go find somewhere else to troll. Have a nice life. :)

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9 minutes ago, RooBlu said:

Well Lord Haw Haw it's like this. $2.6 billion might seem like milk money to you, but its not "next to nothing" to us, and it's far more money than what gets spent on regional infrastructure in a short space of time. Your second point proves that you understand nothing about the regions. Do you have any idea what a regional area has to go through just to get an indoor sports stadium built (ask Shepparton), or a runway reseal at a local airport? Have you any idea how long it has taken to reinstate train services to places like Ararat and Maryborough since they were closed down by a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne (Jeff Kennett) in 1993? Mildura, a city of 50,000 has been waiting 25 years to get a passenger train service reinstated.

Yes infrastructure projects do get "done anyways" but what might be considered a very small project by Melbourne standards, people in the bush wait patiently for years, even decades to see happen. So yes they get "done anyways", but at glacial speed. The Ballarat Council did a Masterplan for what was termed the Ballarat Major Events Precinct in 2015. It laid out what they projected (on 2015 levels of government and Ballarat city funding) would be completed by 2040. The Comm Games will see the vision realised by 2026.

The funding for the Ballarat Sports Events Centre (AKA Selkirk Stadium) took ten years of litteral begging to secure $9 million from the State Government and another 2 years after that to secure $10 million from the Federal Government. When the Ballarat Council (who'd already chipped in the land and another $6 million) and Basketball Ballarat finally were granted the Federal money they were apparently supposed to (to quote Dan Andrews in reference to how Victoria gets Federal infrastructure funding) "bow their heads in gratitude like it was some sort of foreign aid".

So Lord Haw Haw, we pay taxes too and we are entitled to our share (25%) of State Government spending. Now the Games have been awarded; if you have a problem with the decision, then I suggest that you write a sternly worded letter to your State Member of Parliament expressing your solemn concern, and that you stop dropping your little hand grenades and pointless complaints here. Nobody's interested. And frankly I'm being very charitable in this post by giving you the dignity of response! Here in you are ignored!

Go find somewhere else to troll. Have a nice life. :)

I'm not trolling anyone. If literally any other country and one of their cities wanted the Commonwealth Games, they would have gotten it. I'm just stating the facts, since no one else wanted it, the Commonwealth Games Federation asked if we wanted to host it. I'm all for it being regional, but Geelong (with Ballarat and Bendigo) sounds more sleek than "Victoria" 2026. Having events spread out as far as Gippsland is a tad too much. We'll see if it ends up working logistics wise or for those who want to see one event in say Geelong then have to travel all the way out east.

So basically, I have no problem with the decision, just the approach to it.

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With Premier Dan Andrews saying that all sports will be played in Regional Victoria, one would expect that a covered velodrome is going to be built away from Melbourne.

But outdoor, uncovered velodromes do exist, like this one used in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.  Interesting that a wooden competition track is exposed to the elements like this. 

Is an uncovered velodrome on it’s way to Regional Victoria?

 

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9 hours ago, Lord David said:

I'm not trolling anyone. If literally any other country and one of their cities wanted the Commonwealth Games, they would have gotten it. I'm just stating the facts, since no one else wanted it, the Commonwealth Games Federation asked if we wanted to host it. I'm all for it being regional, but Geelong (with Ballarat and Bendigo) sounds more sleek than "Victoria" 2026. Having events spread out as far as Gippsland is a tad too much. We'll see if it ends up working logistics wise or for those who want to see one event in say Geelong then have to travel all the way out east.

So basically, I have no problem with the decision, just the approach to it.

Don’t forget that the Gippsland Region to the east is seriously beautiful and deserves to be included just as much as the bigger regional centres on the other side of Melbourne.

Gippsland is beautiful.  But it’s people and infrastructure suffered very badly from bushfires on Black Saturday in 2010 and again, even more so, during the terrible recent 2019/2020 Bushfires.  Since then there has been massive recovery efforts and funds, including tourusm inventives, road, community and business and infrastructure repair and replacement funds and action pumped into that region from Federal, State and Local Governments as well as many amazing volunteering efforts to repair and rebuild - as well as mental health care and support in these communities.

These Games will further stimulate sport, tourism and the economies in Gippsland and all of the state before, during and after the Games.

Forget what you say “sounds more sleek” when talking about citites and regions west of Melbourne.   “Sounding sleek” has got nothing to do with it, seriously.

You should take a trip out to beautiful Gippsland, it’s stunning and so are the people.

The events in Gippsland will be fantastic and will be great television and also in-person as a spectator including the Gippsland to Bendigo Cycling Road Race which will link the east and west.

These are the innovative and groundbreaking Victoria 2026 Games.

(not the ‘Western Victoria Games’).

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1 hour ago, AustralianFan said:

Don’t forget that the Gippsland Region to the east is seriously beautiful and deserves to be included just as much as the bigger regional centres on the other side of Melbourne.

Gippsland is beautiful.  But it’s people and infrastructure suffered very badly from bushfires on Black Saturday in 2010 and again, even more so, during the terrible recent 2019/2020 Bushfires.  Since then there has been massive recovery efforts and funds, including tourism incentives, road, community and business and infrastructure repair and replacement funds and action pumped into that region from Federal, State and Local Governments as well as many amazing volunteering efforts to repair and rebuild - as well as mental health care and support in these communities.

These Games will further stimulate sport, tourism and the economies in Gippsland and all of the state before, during and after the Games.

Forget what you say “sounds more sleek” when talking about cities and regions west of Melbourne.   “Sounding sleek” has got nothing to do with it, seriously.

You should take a trip out to beautiful Gippsland, it’s stunning and so are the people.

The events in Gippsland will be fantastic and will be great television and also in-person as a spectator including the Gippsland to Bendigo Cycling Road Race which will link the east and west.

These are the innovative and ground breaking Victoria 2026 Games.

(not the ‘Western Victoria Games’).

AustralianFan. Add to that, that we mustn't forget that many cities and towns of the Latrobe Valley (Moe, Morwell, Traralgon and Warragul) which were effectively one-industry towns when brown coal mining and huge coal driven power stations are effectively what built those centres. In recent years we have seen a gradual shutting down of the massive brown coal (Lignite) mining and the gradual closure of the State's biggest electricity plants at Yallourn and Hazelwood with eventually Yallourn W and Loy Yang to follow in kind. These cities are having to re-invent themselves and need all of the government and state assistance that they can possibly get in consideration of what the State of Victoria has reaped off them sine 1921. Victoria's post WW2 industrialisation, growth and prosperity was in large part driven by uber-cheap and uninterrupted electricity supply from this region.

This image conveys an idea of the scale of the Yallourn Open Cut Mine:

spacer.png

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18 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

With Premier Dan Andrews saying that all sports will be played in Regional Victoria, one would expect that a covered velodrome is going to be built away from Melbourne.

But outdoor, uncovered velodromes do exist, like this one used in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.  Interesting that a wooden competition track is exposed to the elements like this. 

Is an uncovered velodrome on it’s way to Regional Victoria?

 

A few weeks ago I would have argued the case that track cycling would be held in Melbourne but as Mr Andrews neither announced the sport or a venue suggests that they are still doing a cost analysis and still haven't determined where? I can't see how a large indoor 5000 seat venue would work in the country unless they build something similar to the pool at the Melbourne Aquatics Centre which is essentially a roof covering the pool with 1 stand on one side and no walls on the rest. As for where you'd build such a facility? That's anyone's guess. Geelong might have a strong case, but Ballarat has 8 spare hectares of land in its Games precinct.

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14 hours ago, RooBlu said:

A few weeks ago I would have argued the case that track cycling would be held in Melbourne but as Mr Andrews neither announced the sport or a venue suggests that they are still doing a cost analysis and still haven't determined where? I can't see how a large indoor 5000 seat venue would work in the country unless they build something similar to the pool at the Melbourne Aquatics Centre which is essentially a roof covering the pool with 1 stand on one side and no walls on the rest. As for where you'd build such a facility? That's anyone's guess. Geelong might have a strong case, but Ballarat has 8 spare hectares of land in its Games precinct.

Ballarat has a cycling track in Sebastopol. Just resurface it in wood like Athens did and add temporary stands. An outdoor track could still work.

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2 hours ago, Lord David said:

Ballarat has a cycling track in Sebastopol. Just resurface it in wood like Athens did and add temporary stands. An outdoor track could still work.

Excellent find.

The Cycling Ballarat website gives some history of the track including:

“Back in the day, summer track racing was held by each club on a ‘home’ track.  Ballarat raced in Victoria Park on a sealed track with raised banks while Sebastopol used a sealed track in what is now the Marty Busch Sports Complex, amid the mullock left over from the mines just west of where the steeply banked 250 meter concrete velodrome is situated today.“

“The successful holding of the 2011 Victorian Madison Championships carnival in Ballarat was a major achievement for the club as it worked to become a consistently strong presence in track racing in Victoria. The completion of our new club rooms in August 2011 was another big step.“

“In late 2008 the club was awarded federal government funding which when combined with City of Ballarat support resulted in the $340,000 upgrade of the velodrome to what it is today.”

Not sure if the dimensions and steepness of the track would need any adjustment should a wooden track be laid over it.  It certainly is ideally located within the Ballarat venue cluster.

In this googlemaps image you can see that next to the track at Marty Bausch Sports Complex in Sebastapol, Ballarat, is also a BMX racing track.   Surrounding ovals and space would be ideal too for accompanying temporary infrastructure such as athletes/officials facilities, entertainment/food & beverage areas, parking, etc.

bmeJZPP.jpg

 

 

 

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2 hours ago, Lord David said:

Ballarat has a cycling track in Sebastopol. Just resurface it in wood like Athens did and add temporary stands. An outdoor track could still work.

 

8 minutes ago, AustralianFan said:

Excellent find.

The Cycling Ballarat website gives some history of the track including:

“Back in the day, summer track racing was held by each club on a ‘home’ track.  Ballarat raced in Victoria Park on a sealed track with raised banks while Sebastopol used a sealed track in what is now the Marty Busch Sports Complex, amid the mullock left over from the mines just west of where the steeply banked 250 meter concrete velodrome is situated today.“

“The successful holding of the 2011 Victorian Madison Championships carnival in Ballarat was a major achievement for the club as it worked to become a consistently strong presence in track racing in Victoria. The completion of our new club rooms in August 2011 was another big step.“

“In late 2008 the club was awarded federal government funding which when combined with City of Ballarat support resulted in the $340,000 upgrade of the velodrome to what it is today.”

Not sure if the dimensions and steepness of the track would need any adjustment should a wooden track be laid over it.  It certainly is ideally located within the Ballarat venue cluster.

In this googlemaps image you can see that next to the track at Marty Bausch Sports Complex in Sebastapol, Ballarat, is also a BMX racing track.   Surrounding ovals and space would be ideal too for accompanying temporary infrastructure such as athletes/officials facilities, entertainment/food & beverage areas, parking, etc.

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Here is a 2021 Victorian Government statement about the re-surfacing of the BMX Track next to the velodrome:

Ballarat-Sebastopol BMX track surfacing upgrade - 24 March 2021

 

 

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Images explained from an online version of the story above:

Needs no further explanation.

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The image below shows the C.E Brown Reserve (The Lake Wendouree Football, Netball and Cricket Clubs). The pavilion underwent a $2.6 million expansion and modernisation three years ago and would serve perfectly as a media centre during the Games as it is 400m from Mars Stadium and immediately to its right is the Selkirk Stadium. It features large function rooms, commercial kitchen, showers and change rooms as well as briefing rooms.

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This image below shows the intersection of the Midland Highway (Top left to Bottom right) and Norman Street (Bottom left to top right). Immediately to the top of the intersection above the rail line is the new ten pin bowling centre and bar. Immediately to the right of the intersection is the likely place for the future railway station. 

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This Tramways expansion will also  be enjoyed by tourists and visitors visiting for the Games in 2026:

Tender Released For Bendigo Tramways Expansion - 14May22

The Bendigo Tramways expansion is another step closer, with the project now out to tender.”

“The $10.7 million project is being delivered by the Andrews Labor Government in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo and Bendigo Heritage Attractions, to create additional storage space and deliver upgraded workshop equipment to restore heritage rolling stock.”

“The expansion will also enable Bendigo Tramways to increase the number of trams they restore, creating more jobs and generating economic activity in Central Victoria.”

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From Bendigo Tramways:

73M04nM.jpg

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The lights on the Green and Gold Runway to Victoria 2026 and Brisbane 2032 just got brighter with today’s amazing announcment!

Melbourne to Host the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).

These will be held this year from 13-18 December 2022 at the venue of the 2006 Commonwealth Games swimming venue, Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre in Albert Park.

While the Victoria 2026 Swimming competition will be held in Geelong, what a coup for Australian and Victorian based swimmers.

Here is the link to that thread: 

Melbourne, Australia, to Host 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

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