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11 hours ago, Victorian said:

 

2 hours ago, SportLightning said:

I'm not sure about the Geelong getting the opening ceremony.

Right now, its looking like the Government will be returned and the Opening Ceremony will remain at the MCG.

I think its a sensible idea to have it the MCG with a big Ceremony to invite and entice as many Melbourne-ites as possble to visit beautiful Regional Victoria and take in the Games at various locations and boost tourism, jobs and businesses in the process.

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2026 Commonwealth Games: Ballarat athletics legacy revealed as expressions of interest open

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Above: Concept art for Mars Stadium, showing Creswick Road blocked and the new warm-up track at the current showgrounds site

Tender documents reveal Ballarat's new athletics facility will be built on the corner of Creswick Road and Howitt Street, with the Midland Highway potentially blocked during the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The expression of interest documents, from the state government's tender website, include "indicative block plans" for the massive $150 million Mars Stadium upgrades.

Ballarat will host the athletics and para-athletics at the stadium in March 2026, as well as boxing at Selkirk Stadium and some cricket matches. Creswick will also host mountain biking. According to the documents, tenders will go out by December 5, with construction to begin in October, 2023. In Ballarat, the plans show another 5000 seats to be built on the stadium's eastern side, removing the existing roof, and adding 18,000 temporary seats to the eastern stand and on the hill to the south. The current showgrounds site will become home to a new International Amateur Athletics Federation-standard facility, with a full running track with internal throwing areas for warm-ups, and temporary throwing warm-up facilities on the western side.
 

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Where the new grandstands could go for the Commonwealth Games (in yellow) - indicative block plan only.
There would also be added amenities around a new plaza spilling onto Creswick Road - the indicative block plans echo the initial concept art for the stadium, with Creswick Road blocked just after the Howitt Street intersection, and a new bus parking facility for an "athlete load zone". Much of the current North Ballarat Sports Club would be closed to the public for the Games, with a broadcast compound pictured in the current car park, and other facilities around the club's second oval.


It's not clear from the documents how the public would access the site. The documents also show early plans for what will happen to the site after the Games, and while the surface of Mars Stadium would return to being a football oval, the new athletics facility would stay. Two stands of 2000 seats would be retained, and the roof would be returned on the south-eastern stand.
 

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After the Games, this is what the new Ballarat athletics facility might look like.

The athletics track would include a new clubhouse and parking, though the throwing warm-up areas to the west are labelled "future development area".
The early plans are good news, according to Ballarat Regional Athletics Centre hub manager Ashley Anderson. He said the existing facilities at Llanberris on York Street needed a significant update and the new design showed a track oriented north-south. "That's the best option for wind," he said. "The main thing to consider is the legacy for the facility is to meet the needs into the future - to create something fantastic not just for the athletics community but for the whole town."

Ballarat athletics clubs will be part of the consultation process, Mr Anderson added, with a list of priorities already submitted to Development Victoria, the agency in charge of delivering the facilities. The wish list includes a nine or 10-lane running track with two sprint straights, four sandpits, and internal and external throwing areas. "The main things that we learned, and we looked a lot of different facilities across Victoria, is there's always one or two things they realise afterwards they could have done better," he said.

"It's important to look beyond just the track and the amenities, it's the changerooms, equipment shed, stands, shaded area, lighting, these are things that can be left behind. 'We're ready, we're welcoming the changes, we're ready to open ourselves up to the opportunity that presents itself." In a statement, a Development Victoria spokesperson said the agency "will be working closely with the construction industry over the next three years to get these venues and villages constructed and operating in time for the Games in March, 2026". Development Victoria also opened a community engagement survey this week for Ballarat's athletes' village, to be built at the former sale yards site on La Trobe Street. It's expected 1800 people will be housed at the 13-hectare site, which will convert to a mix of affordable and social housing after the Games.

The survey, available online through the state government's EngageVictoria platform, closes on December 4.

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On 11/6/2022 at 7:44 AM, Victorian said:
On 11/6/2022 at 8:15 AM, ulu said:

$292 million seems a bit excessive for a regional aquatic centre.

Just been looking into the $292m figure and according to this report, the $292 figure is the total investment plan in the Greater Geelong region for the Games:

From Victoria details Geelong venue investment plan for Commonwealth Games - Sports Business - 31 October 2022:

The Australian city of Geelong is set to receive up to A$292m (€188m/$186.8m) of investment in sports infrastructure following the announcement it will host the athletes’ village, nine sports, and the closing ceremony for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.”

“Victoria’s government has said it will invest in purpose-built sporting infrastructure in Waurn Ponds and Armstrong Creek. The aquatics centre in Armstrong Creek will host swimmers, para swimmers and divers while artistic gymnastics, weightlifting and Para powerlifting will take place at a new venue in Waurn Ponds.”

___________________________

Also from: New Venues And Closing Ceremony For Geelong In 2026 - 29 October 2022 - Miragenews.com

“The Andrews Labor Government is investing up to $292 million in purpose-built sporting infrastructure in Waurn Ponds and Armstrong Creek, that will be converted into community infrastructure for these growing communities after the final medals are won.”

“The aquatics centre in Armstrong Creek will host swimmers, para swimmers and divers while the Commonwealth’s best gymnasts, weightlifters and Para powerlifters will aim for gold in Waurn Ponds.”

“After the Games, the aquatics centre will become a community pool facility, with multi-purpose courts and green open space preserved.”

The artistic gymnastics and weightlifting venue in Waurn Ponds will become seven multi-sport courts, a dance studio, and a regional-level gymnastics centre.”

———————-

So this figure also appears to include the Athletes Village at Waurn Ponds (capacity 2,500):

Locals to have their say on athlete's village - 3 November 2022 - KRock News

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Perth 1962 - First Indigenous Athletes

British Empire and Commonwealth Games

“60 years ago this week, the focus was on the another major event in Perth in Western Australia.”

“Never before had the Commonwealth Games started quite so late in the year yet they were held as the Australian summer began.”

“The Games also represented an important chapter in the history of the host nation because for the first time Australia's roll of honour included two indigenous athletes.”

“The first champion was high jumper Percy Hobson, who won the gold medal in the high jump.“

 

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Victoria State Election Today

If the Victorian State Government is re-elected, the Victoria 2026 Opening Ceremony will take place at the MCG and the Closing at Kardinia Park Stadium, Geelong.

If the opposition wins, both Victoria 2026 Ceremonies will be held at Kardinia Park Stadium, Geelong.

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4 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

Victoria State Election Today

If the Victorian State Government is re-elected, the Victoria 2026 Opening Ceremony will take place at the MCG and the Closing at Kardinia Park Stadium, Geelong.

If the opposition wins, both Victoria 2026 Ceremonies will be held at Kardinia Park Stadium, Geelong.

20:20 AEDT 26 Nov-22:

ABC News Australia is projecting that Victorian State Government has been re-elected and so it’s safe to say now that Opening Ceremony in 2026 will remain at the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground Stadium.

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13 hours ago, AustralianFan said:

20:20 AEDT 26 Nov-22:

ABC News Australia is projecting that Victorian State Government has been re-elected and so it’s safe to say now that Opening Ceremony in 2026 will remain at the massive Melbourne Cricket Ground Stadium.

Just like 2006, a Labor government will govern the Commonwealth Games

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“Victoria is also facing another tight turnaround to deliver the 2026 Commonwealth Games after securing the hosting rights in April.”

“A new Aquatics Centre is expected to be built at Armstrong Creek in Geelong for Victoria 2026 that is set to be the first regional Games.”

“Officials from Victoria 2026 are due to attend the World Swimming Championships (25m) and Rickard believes they will be able to gather key knowledge.”

"I look at this venue and see how much we have overlaid temporarily and I think that will be a key part of what they will have to do in 2026 given some of the locations and facilities," said Rickard.”

 

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Just now, AustralianFan said:

“Victoria is also facing another tight turnaround to deliver the 2026 Commonwealth Games after securing the hosting rights in April.”

“A new Aquatics Centre is expected to be built at Armstrong Creek in Geelong for Victoria 2026 that is set to be the first regional Games.”

“Officials from Victoria 2026 are due to attend the World Swimming Championships (25m) and Rickard believes they will be able to gather key knowledge.”

"I look at this venue and see how much we have overlaid temporarily and I think that will be a key part of what they will have to do in 2026 given some of the locations and facilities," said Rickard.”

 

Brenton has been great to work with. A top bloke. 
yes indeed lessons will be learnt from this event. I expect the Armstrong Creek Aquatic Centre to be a similar set up to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. 

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1 hour ago, Victorian said:

Brenton has been great to work with. A top bloke. 
yes indeed lessons will be learnt from this event. I expect the Armstrong Creek Aquatic Centre to be a similar set up to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre. 

Yes it’ll be interesting to see the design.

It may need a roof to make it all weather and usable all year round for the local community.

I’m picturing a centre just like MSAC at these World Championships with an expandable open side for temporary grandstands.

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