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“Leading architecture firm Warren and Mahoney has partnered with Geelong’s own Four18 Architecture as design consultants on the Armstrong Creek Aquatics venue, which will host Swimming, Para Swimming and Diving.“

“The Aquatics venue on Barwarre Road will boast three pools during the Commonwealth Games including competition, warm up and diving pools.”

“The Armstrong Creek venue will feature multi-sport courts, a community pool and green open space after the Commonwealth Games are finished.”

“Australian firm ARM Architecture has been appointed to lead the design of the Gymnastics, Weightlifting and Para Powerlifting venue on Baanip Boulevard in Waurn Ponds.”

“After the Closing Ceremony, the Waurn Ponds venue will feature multi-sport courts, a dance studio and a regional-level gymnastics centre.“

 

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2026 Commonwealth Games Eureka Stadium architects announced, Cox Architecture and Morton and Co Architects

By Nieve Walton Ballarat Courier
Updated March 31 2023 - 8:12pm, first published 3:20pm

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Preliminary plans for Eureka Stadium expansion ahead of the Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games. Picture supplied.

 

Progress on Ballarat's Commonwealth Games infrastructure is taking the next step as key architects are appointed. Cox Architecture will partner with Ballarat firm Morton and Co Architects to design the upgrades to Eureka Stadium (commonly known as Mars), where the athletics and para-athletics events will take place in 2026.

This work includes the new athletics track on site, expansion of the stadium seats, as well as temporary seating and improving accessibility. The stadium will be a part of Ballarat's world-class sporting precinct, according to the state government, that will deliver entertainment opportunities and boost tourism beyond the 2026 event.

Next door, the $24 million Ballarat Sports and Events Centre redevelopment houses eight community courts, including a 3000-seat show court arena, educational centres and a dedicated strength and conditioning gym. This will host the boxing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Cox Architecture has a number of stadiums under its belt, including work for the Sydney 2000 Olympics as well as developments at Optus and HBF stadiums in Perth, Western Australia and Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. They also provided technical advice for the Tokyo Aquatic Centre's design at the 2020 Olympics.

On their website, a blog post outlines the "importance of legacy and sport infrastructure" following the 2020 Olympics. "We understand the importance of leading with the experience of the crowds, integrating within local environments, and designing beyond the games," it states.

In Ballarat, Morton and Co have worked on North Ballarat Football Club Development Project and Ballarat Grammar School Sports Centre. In January, archaeologists and staff from the Ballarat office of A.S. James Geotechnical Engineers spent the weekend taking soil samples from Eureka Stadium.

At the time they reported the samples would need detailed lab analysis but much of the land between the showgrounds and oval was a relatively undisturbed layer of clay over siltstone - and thankfully, no high water table. Meanwhile, for the athletes' village, tenders for civil works at the former saleyards at the Delacombe site opened at the start of March and closed on March 28.

Such works are separate to the tenders for planned housing in the villages. Designs for each village remain under development. Early civil works are expected to begin later this year.

Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy Harriet Shing was in Ballarat on Friday March 31 speaking to key stakeholders and community groups as part of the Regional Engagement Forums series.

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Ballarat transport options during Commonwealth Games 2026 up in the air

By Nieve Walton - Ballarat Courier
April 4 2023 - 5:30am

No answers on key Ballarat transport infrastructure during Commonwealth Games planning are concerning transport advocates. As the city gears up to host 30,000 people, twice a day for athletics events, logistic plans are yet to be released on how they will move to and from Eureka Stadium.

With accommodation options unlikely to be sufficient for these massive numbers in just three years time, many of the visitors will likely come from Melbourne for events but so far car parking options are extremely limited at the sporting precinct. So transport advocates are pushing for commuter rail and other alternative transport to be the best option to meet the 2026 demand and leave a valuable legacy to Ballarat.

A third station for an events platform was floated in July 2022 by the City of Ballarat in their document outlining potential legacy infrastructure projects that would benefit the city beyond the games. The council's proposed options include a Creswick Road gamesday station or a station on the Wendouree line within walking distance of the stadium.

The state government was unable to confirm if Ballarat was getting a third platform or if Creswick Road or Howitt Street specifically would be closed during the games. They said planning was ongoing, they were considering all transport options and anticipate there will be traffic changes in the city.

Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said a third events platform is what the committee is advocating for. "It provides another form of transport from the [Ballarat] city to the stadium, which would be particularly helpful for those who have some mobility issues," he said. "It just makes so much sense that the events platform serves that purpose, given the relationship between the railway line and the stadium."

Public Transport Users Association, Ballarat branch convener Ben Lever said a station outside the stadium would make the most sense and be most convenient for spectators. Without an events platform close to the stadium, Mr Lever said moving people from Ballarat or Wendouree stations would likely involve a large number of buses or a multiple kilometre walk. "Which would be less convenient for the public, but also also quite expensive and logistically challenging for the government," he said.

Advocates, including the council, are calling for the Ballarat bus system to be overhauled. "Another key piece of the puzzle will be creating a really pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly corridor along Creswick Road," Mr Lever said.

The duplication of Creswick Road is another project the city was advocating for. Their legacy document dot points plans to make a grand northern entrance to the city similar to Victoria Street. While there will be some buses regardless, without the road upgrades and without the platform, Mr Poulton said there would be major pressures on Creswick Road. "That's the bit that's really unpalatable is where you would have considerable buses running up and down, backwards and forwards from the city to the stadium," he said. "I just think that's a poor outcome."

Developments along Creswick Road and walkability between Eureka Stadium and the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre are high on the agenda for the Major Events Precinct advisory group. Basketball Ballarat chief executive Neville Ivey said there are two mobility options to get between the two large centres that make up the events precinct.

Creating a route from Eureka to BSEC or walking along Creswick Road or Norman Street, both would need infrastructure upgrades. Mr Ivey said investment in landscaping would be ideal so it could become an addition to the precinct people want to spend time in rather than just getting from A to B. "People might come to our venue and drop the kids off for basketball training and then go for a walk around this beautiful landscaped area," he said. "We want something we can be proud of."

The elephant in the room is the still vacant John Valves site. At the corner of the events precinct, it could be a key part of Commonwealth Games infrastructure, but so far has been cut out of preliminary concept designs. In April last year, council was considering purchasing the two sites, 701-723 and 735 Creswick Road.

The eight hectares was valued at around $10 million to $12 million according to the state's Valuar-General, but the owners were under no obligation to sell. In April, before the state government had announced their infrastructure plans, council chief executive Evan King said there would be opportunities to fast-track the sporting precinct investment and consideration would need to be made about where to put the warmup track, as well as corporate, hospitality and merchandising requirements.

It seems focus has now shifted away from the Valves site and towards the existing showgrounds and the southern end of the precinct. 

Underpinning all of these decisions is the long term impact on the city, at the end of the day what will Ballarat be left with once the games leave? If buses are implemented it would be an example of transporting many visitors using zero emission transport options. "That infrastructure exists currently and should be deployed for the games," Mr Poulton said.

If we were to get an events platform, in the long term that could become a more established train station and unlock rail as a way to quickly get around the city. With 20,000 people expected to move into the north growth zones over the next decade, Mr Poulton said adding more cars to the roads is not going to be an option. "This allows people to use those stations as a metro style train system to get around our city by train, without feeling as though they have to drive their cars everywhere," he said.

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21 minutes ago, RooBlu said:

Ballarat transport options during Commonwealth Games 2026 up in the air

By Nieve Walton - Ballarat Courier
April 4 2023 - 5:30am

No answers on key Ballarat transport infrastructure during Commonwealth Games planning are concerning transport advocates. As the city gears up to host 30,000 people, twice a day for athletics events, logistic plans are yet to be released on how they will move to and from Eureka Stadium.

With accommodation options unlikely to be sufficient for these massive numbers in just three years time, many of the visitors will likely come from Melbourne for events but so far car parking options are extremely limited at the sporting precinct. So transport advocates are pushing for commuter rail and other alternative transport to be the best option to meet the 2026 demand and leave a valuable legacy to Ballarat.

A third station for an events platform was floated in July 2022 by the City of Ballarat in their document outlining potential legacy infrastructure projects that would benefit the city beyond the games. The council's proposed options include a Creswick Road gamesday station or a station on the Wendouree line within walking distance of the stadium.

The state government was unable to confirm if Ballarat was getting a third platform or if Creswick Road or Howitt Street specifically would be closed during the games. They said planning was ongoing, they were considering all transport options and anticipate there will be traffic changes in the city.

Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said a third events platform is what the committee is advocating for. "It provides another form of transport from the [Ballarat] city to the stadium, which would be particularly helpful for those who have some mobility issues," he said. "It just makes so much sense that the events platform serves that purpose, given the relationship between the railway line and the stadium."

Public Transport Users Association, Ballarat branch convener Ben Lever said a station outside the stadium would make the most sense and be most convenient for spectators. Without an events platform close to the stadium, Mr Lever said moving people from Ballarat or Wendouree stations would likely involve a large number of buses or a multiple kilometre walk. "Which would be less convenient for the public, but also also quite expensive and logistically challenging for the government," he said.

Advocates, including the council, are calling for the Ballarat bus system to be overhauled. "Another key piece of the puzzle will be creating a really pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly corridor along Creswick Road," Mr Lever said.

The duplication of Creswick Road is another project the city was advocating for. Their legacy document dot points plans to make a grand northern entrance to the city similar to Victoria Street. While there will be some buses regardless, without the road upgrades and without the platform, Mr Poulton said there would be major pressures on Creswick Road. "That's the bit that's really unpalatable is where you would have considerable buses running up and down, backwards and forwards from the city to the stadium," he said. "I just think that's a poor outcome."

Developments along Creswick Road and walkability between Eureka Stadium and the Ballarat Sports and Events Centre are high on the agenda for the Major Events Precinct advisory group. Basketball Ballarat chief executive Neville Ivey said there are two mobility options to get between the two large centres that make up the events precinct.

Creating a route from Eureka to BSEC or walking along Creswick Road or Norman Street, both would need infrastructure upgrades. Mr Ivey said investment in landscaping would be ideal so it could become an addition to the precinct people want to spend time in rather than just getting from A to B. "People might come to our venue and drop the kids off for basketball training and then go for a walk around this beautiful landscaped area," he said. "We want something we can be proud of."

The elephant in the room is the still vacant John Valves site. At the corner of the events precinct, it could be a key part of Commonwealth Games infrastructure, but so far has been cut out of preliminary concept designs. In April last year, council was considering purchasing the two sites, 701-723 and 735 Creswick Road.

The eight hectares was valued at around $10 million to $12 million according to the state's Valuar-General, but the owners were under no obligation to sell. In April, before the state government had announced their infrastructure plans, council chief executive Evan King said there would be opportunities to fast-track the sporting precinct investment and consideration would need to be made about where to put the warmup track, as well as corporate, hospitality and merchandising requirements.

It seems focus has now shifted away from the Valves site and towards the existing showgrounds and the southern end of the precinct. 

Underpinning all of these decisions is the long term impact on the city, at the end of the day what will Ballarat be left with once the games leave? If buses are implemented it would be an example of transporting many visitors using zero emission transport options. "That infrastructure exists currently and should be deployed for the games," Mr Poulton said.

If we were to get an events platform, in the long term that could become a more established train station and unlock rail as a way to quickly get around the city. With 20,000 people expected to move into the north growth zones over the next decade, Mr Poulton said adding more cars to the roads is not going to be an option. "This allows people to use those stations as a metro style train system to get around our city by train, without feeling as though they have to drive their cars everywhere," he said.

Makes absolute sense to have en events platform there at the Stadium, with AFL matches held there too regularly and I

It does not need to be a palace, just accessible, and easy safe pathway to/from the stadium.

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23 hours ago, Victorian said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@Victorian Hi hope you’re enjoying the Easter break.

Can I make a suggestion, rather than post a marathon of 20 x full length twitter posts, that you instead use hyperlinks if you wish to post more than one at a time.   

20 twitters full length in one post is far  far too much.  One at a time without flooding the page  gives people the opportunity to comment or respond.

I’m mending my ways in regard to this too.

 

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An interesting conversation from Michael Poulton who chairs The Committee for Ballarat on local ABC radio last Tuesday. Mr Poulton talks frankly about transport and Games Legacy:

https://www.abc.net.au/ballarat/programs/breakfast/commonwealth-games-transport-plan/102188136?utm_campaign=abc_radio_ballarat&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_radio_ballarat

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1 hour ago, RooBlu said:

An interesting conversation from Michael Poulton who chairs The Committee for Ballarat on local ABC radio last Tuesday. Mr Poulton talks frankly about transport and Games Legacy:

https://www.abc.net.au/ballarat/programs/breakfast/commonwealth-games-transport-plan/102188136?utm_campaign=abc_radio_ballarat&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_radio_ballarat

That certainly is heartening regarding an events platform at Mars Stadium and his comments on the staged approach regarding the station platform itself.

Initially an events platform actvitated when events are on and in the longer term perhaps permanent activation as the population of Ballarat citizens in that area grows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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5 hours ago, Victorian said:

It has been one year since Victoria secured the 2026 Commonwealth Games

Time has flown since then.   But a lot has been done in that 12 months and the Organising Committe has been formed, grown, a CEO appointed and moved into their new HQ in Geelong.

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From Ballarat Courier: 

April 20 2023 - 5:30am
 
Mayor calls for a Creswick Road events platform and positive village design

Securing a lasting benefit for our city beyond the 2026 Commonwealth Games has been flagged as an ongoing priority as city leaders advocate for projects during budget season. Concerns have been raised amid fears some opportunities, like a Creswick Road events platform and an integrated housing estate are slipping away from being achievable in the planning phase.

 

State budget announcements are expected in May and Ballarat mayor Des Hudson said it was important to ensure a Games legacy was "watertight and guaranteed". Cr Hudson said an events platform opposite Creswick Road would benefit the Commonwealth Games, the future of the major events precinct and long term growth in the city's north. "It's not another station, it is a hard stand," he said. "It's a piece of concrete that I think would assist greatly, instead of a whole line of buses. Why wouldn't we continue the train just a little bit further north and allow them to get off at that point of destination?"

 

Chief executive Evan King said attracting events to the city was a "highly competitive market. If we want to generate the return on the investment into Mars Stadium, having an event platform across the road gives us an incredibly attractive venue to be able to attract future events. The other side is our northern growth zone .... there's an opportunity to be able to move that part of the community around in the long term as well."

While $2.6 billion has been set aside for the Games across Victoria including $150 million for Eureka Stadium development a future breakdown of the budget is expected. There will be a $50 million upgrade to the Ballarat station but this is not a part of the Games budget.

Mr King said he wanted people to have an easy and seamless experience. "In Birmingham it was challenging getting in and out of the stadium," Mr King said. "People you talk to that went, that's the first thing they tell you about."

Planning an athletes village that is connected to our community. Another key aspect of Games infrastructure for Ballarat will be the athletes village on the old saleyards site.

In February tender documents confirmed the village would be made up of a range of houses rather than apartments. Artist impressions were also released but an architect has yet to be announced. Mr King said he wanted to ensure the village was "designed appropriately to create a community. It will probably commence an urban renewal program in that area," he said.

Cr Hudson said he wanted to see a space that would integrate with the community after the Games and was concerned about the amount of time left to deliver well thought-out projects. "We want this to be a positive experience for our community," he said. "Because if they're done poorly then we all have the issue that will be there for a long time afterwards."

Cr Hudson said the site was in close proximity to commercial activity and Victoria Park. "There needs to be some genuine thought around how that will interface and be part of the entire community post the 14-day [game] period," he said.

Tenders for earthworks at the village site were released in late February and are expected to start sometime this year. 

"My concern is we're two-and-a-half years out from the stated completion date for the Village and not much is happening on the site at the moment," Cr Hudson said. "That doesn't leave much time for that particular precinct to be up and going and making sure it's ready."

When asked if the state government was considering a second train platform, a spokesperson said they were considering all options to ensure Eureka Stadium was a "world-class venue".

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Timeline announced for Eureka Stadium ahead of Commonwealth Games althetics

Updated April 24 2023 - 5:51pm, first published 5:30pm
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Drone photo taken of the Eastern Stand at Mars/Eureka Stadium in May 2022.

A timeline for upgrades to Eureka Stadium has been set as the state government is looking for a contractor to build the additional facilities needed for Ballarat to host the athletics in the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

This could include undertaking civil and earth works as well as constructing the athletics tracks, car parking and sport lighting. The advanced tender notice was released on Monday April 24. Expression of interest applications will open in May and the second stage of the tender process, a request for proposal will be released in July.

Development Victoria, who are in charge of delivering the major competition venue infrastructure, anticipates a contractor will be appointed in August.

The state government will spend $150 million on the stadium, this will include 5,000 new permanent seats and 18,000 temporary seats as well as improving accessibility access.

At the end of March, the state government announced two architectural firms will work together to design the stadium upgrades. 

Wendouree MP Juliana Addison said in a statement, "the improvements will benefit our community for decades to follow". In a separate announcement, the state government is also seeking regional based employment suppliers and group training organisations through a registration of interest process.

In order for builders to be able to work on Victorian 2026 projects they will need to employ workers from a "diverse range of backgrounds to meet Labor Government policy requirements".

The state government will create a list of regional workers in areas like concreting, bricklaying and electricians which allow workers and contracted builders to connect with each other. There will also be opportunities for students to apply for apprenticeship and traineeships with builders contracted for games infrastructure.

Meanwhile the City of Ballarat mayor and chief executive are expecting a further breakdown of the Commonwealth Games spending once the treasurer hands down the state budget on the 23rd May.

Mayor Des Hudson said he would like to see support for an events platform next to Creswick Road and thought it was important for the athletes village in Delacombe to fit in with the surrounding area.

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2 minutes ago, RooBlu said:

We could wheel out a hologram of Judith Durham singing "The Carnival is Over" at the closing ceremony ;)

That would be terrific. A nod to the 2000 Paralympics Closing Ceremony

 

Brisbane 82 had a giant Matilda come into the Stadium, Melbourne 06 had the flying tram with the giant Migaloo coming into Gold Coast 18. Could we have a giant Ned Kelly?

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I am hoping for a wonderful tribute to the late Queen. Since she has been alive for every previous Commonwealth Games.

Expecting a major Indigenous theme but would like to see a nod to the Gold Rush, Victorian agricultural, farmer and country landscape.

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Geelong to splash $8m on Commonwealth Games

By Mibenge Nsenduluka A.A.P
Updated April 27 2023 - 1:38pm, first published 1:36pm
 
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The City of Greater Geelong will spend nearly $8 million on the 2026 Commonwealth Games despite an $8 million budget deficit in the current financial year.

In a draft budget released on Wednesday, the city said the two-week sporting event presents both an opportunity and challenge as council grapples with mounting financial pressure. It comes after the city's finance portfolio chair Anthony Aitken said Geelong could not afford to chip in to the Games due to a multimillion-dollar budget deficit. The event will be held across parts of regional Victoria including Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland.

The council has forecast an operating surplus of $1.28m in 2023/24 after an $8m loss in 2022/23, in its proposed 2023/24 to 2026/27 budget. It plans to increase rates bills and put multiple community projects on hold. The average residential rates will increase by $80 or 5.8 per cent, with an average bill of $1480 from the next financial year. Commercial ratepayers face an average bill of $4937.

The council also plans to put at least 25 council projects on hold due to $130m in cost escalations. Construction was set to begin on a fenced dog park at Aldershot Reserve this year, along with a range of other projects totalling more than $80m, however they have now been paused. Council plans to spend $616m on various infrastructure projects over four years.

"It is about being financially responsible to set the City up for the future," Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan said. "In a challenging economic climate we've worked hard to budget for an operating surplus, which is in line with our 10-year plan and will enable us to keep debt in check."

Acting chief executive Kaarina Phyland said the council was grappling with the cost of living crisis.

"Like many other governments and organisations, the City of Greater Geelong is under heavy financial pressure," Ms Phyland said. "We will continue to deliver core services, invest strongly in new facilities, and maintain our existing assets. But to balance our books we have had to concentrate on what we can afford, and that has meant some really tough decisions for the Council."

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With the Federal Government asking the states to cut back on projects that are not started, Victoria itself having too many projects on the go, and the City of Geelong not having enough funds, would there be any move of sports around ... or is it too close to the Games now for this to happen?

For example, a sizeable amount could be saved on a new aquatics centre in Geelong by having these events run at MSAC in Melbourne, as they did in 2006. I understand these are a regional Victorian games though.

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