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The Murdoch Press will attack the Andrews Government on anything that they can get a hold on. We do need to keep perspective. A $3 billion Comm Games is a drop in the ocean considering the tens of billions that Brisbane's Olympics will ultimately cost Aussie taxpayers. For goodness sake, the Federal Government and the QLD Govt have already committed to spending $7 billion on Brisbane's venues alone. The Murdoch media keep banging on about this $165 billion State debt which actually doesn't exist. It's the projected debt for 2026 if (and that's an "IF") the government kept spending on it's recent trajectory (accounting for COVID and accounting for the many major infrastructure projects under construction).   However, as at 2023 the State's net debt is actually $113 billion (Whis is about $52 billion less than $165 billion in my calculations). Tomorrow's State Budget will reveal all, Comm Games funding along with budget cuts and all. The Games were budgeted in last year with moneys already being spent as we type. Further, as Premier Andrews rightly said two weeks ago, we don't yet know what contribution may be made from the Federal Government as there are still two Federal budgets between now and the Comm Games.

Those willing to buy into the $165 billion lie ignore that the Victorian State Government has been heavily investing in massive infrastructure since 2014. In 2014 the State had $22 billion of net debt when the Andrews Government came to office. Since 2014 in Melbourne alone some 73 level crossings have been removed (So far), all freeways widened, North Link under construction, the Westgate Tunnel under construction, the 9km Metro railway tunnel under construction, huge hospital upgrades and rebuilds, hundreds of new trains for both city and country, 100s of km of regional railway lines upgraded for fast trains and upgrades to community sports facilities across the state. Victoria has mostly had to self-fund its infrastructure building with virtually no Commonwealth support since 2014 despite having the highest population growth in that time. That's where the debt mainly has been incurred. Covid directly cost the State Government $31 billion in support payments to businesses and individuals during lockdowns. So suddenly $113 billion has some perspective. Can anybody in Melbourne, who lives in Melbourne begin to imagine what Melbourne will be like 5 years from now without the major infrastructure projects that are being built ATM? It would literally grind to a halt in 10 years. It would be the most unliveable city in Australia at least.

So to keep context, since 2014 the state's debt has grown $89 billion, including $31 billion from COVID, so it might well be argued that $57 billion is the real growth in state debt without COVID.

There will be 6 million people living in Melbourne and almost eight million in Victoria by the time that they are lighting the Olympic flame in Brisbane. Since Melbourne hosted the 2006 Comm Games it has grown by Adelaide (Yes it's physically grown by 1.5 million people ... Imagine building Adelaide from scratch in just 17 years :o). But you won't see the facts or figures presented this way in any Murdoch newspaper or any of his TV channels. 

I don't like Dan Andrews, I didn't vote for his government, but I am a pragmatist. The Victorian Government have choices to make and it is likely that we will see many projects not commenced or scaled down. This is what we are expecting tomorrow. We will definitely see cuts to the public service (and likely privatisation and the outsourcing of those services  Jeff Kennett style). We will likely see them abandon some major promises such as re-raising the SEC, the deferment of the Airport rail indefinitely or even the scaling down the suburban rail loop. It will be an interesting old Budget speech tomorrow night that's for sure. :rolleyes:

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16 hours ago, RooBlu said:

The Murdoch media keep banging on about this $165 billion State debt which actually doesn't exist

16 hours ago, RooBlu said:

Those willing to buy into the $165 billion lie

The Vic Budget today says state debt will now reach $171.4 billion!

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Please Albo bail us out!

Detail lacking for Commonwealth Games spend

When it comes to funding for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Tuesday’s budget papers contained no specific infrastructure spending breakdowns or project timelines for the event.

That’s despite last year’s budget setting aside $2.6 billion for the Games, which are due to be held across five regional locations in March 2026.

The Andrews government has blamed the lack of detail in this year’s budget on the ongoing uncertainty regarding federal funding.

But that is unlikely to appease communities in Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Morwell, given they have less than three years to complete the infrastructure necessary for the Games. Athlete villages are due to be built in those four locations, with expressions of interest already released.

Two new venues will need to be built in Geelong to host aquatic events, gymnastics and weightlifting. Geelong is due to host nine sports in total, including golf, hockey, rowing, cricket, triathlon and coastal rowing.

In Ballarat, new warm-up facilities are to be built at the local showgrounds – alongside an upgrade to Eureka Stadium – as the regional city prepares to host athletics, boxing and mountain biking events.

The Albanese government has so far declined to allocate any money to the $2.6 billion Games. This month’s federal budget stated that the financial implications of any Commonwealth support were “not quantifiable at this time”.

Pssst ... less than 3 years to go ... now gonna wait until Budgets in May 2024 for further funding?

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There is a clash between the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland, 2026 and the Commonwealth Games after the release of dates for the Championships that are set to take place between March 20-22, 2026

 

https://worldathletics.org/news/press-releases/world-athletics-council-competition-decisions?fbclid=IwAR0d0RFv4yEwTY9mmFpzkCIXPpPgjK2nKE065bE6t2hAgt_AAE7RIVeWZQ0

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On 5/23/2023 at 12:33 PM, ulu said:

Thanks for the rant. The decision to not use MSAC still sucks.

Oh no! Thank YOU yet again for offering nothing but criticism. Do you actually anything, and I do mean anything at all, positive to add to this thread? Or are you and Mr/Mrs/Ms/it/the/they Gonzo just both lurking around here to troll? :rolleyes:

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  • 2 weeks later...

As we await announcements of facility designs and successful builders the following articles appeared in yesterday's and today's Ballarat Courier:

Call for Commonwealth Games to benefit wider region - Yesterday

By Adrian Black
Updated June 7 2023 - 11:41am, first published 11:22am
 
Councils want more investment before 2026 Games
Councils want more investment before 2026 Games

The state's 10 biggest regional centres, including Ballarat, want extra funding for the 2026 Commonwealth Games that will help promote and benefit wider regional Victoria beyond the competition's host cities. So far, Ballarat has had major commitment for an upgrade of Mars Stadium and the sporting precinct, the athletes village at the saleyards and capital works at the Ballarat station (With the Ballarat Station works being funded from a separate infrastructure budget).

Now Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) has proposed an $80 million package to be spent on sporting facilities, parklands, open spaces and a tourism campaign for the games across the state. The Commonwealth Games are expected to generate about $3 billion for Victoria, but funding allocations for the event were absent in recent state and federal budgets.

The Games will be held across parts of regional Victoria, including Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton. RCV chair and Bendigo Mayor Andrea Metcalf said the 2026 Games represented a unique opportunity that should benefit the whole state. "This is the time for regional Victoria to shine on the world stage and we must ensure that we build on this exposure, maintaining momentum as we showcase our amazing regional cities and get long-term value out of the investment made through the Games," she said. "It is a priority that First Peoples and traditional owners are engaged in all aspects of the games delivery and ensure they reflect Victoria's rich cultural history."

Regional cities needed assurance the state government would invest in its regions after the regional jobs and infrastructure fund was discontinued in May's budget, she said. A Victorian government spokesman said more than $41 billion had been spent across rural and regional Victoria since 2015. "We're getting on with delivering the Commonwealth Games, with our $2.6 billion to ensure a long-lasting legacy across regional Victoria," the spokesman said. "Victoria 2026 will create local jobs, deliver a legacy of affordable and social housing and world-class sporting facilities, boost inclusion and participation - delivering the significant economic benefits of one of the world's largest sporting events to regional Victoria - before, during and after the competition finishes."

About a quarter of Victorians - 1.5 million people - live in regional areas and more than half of those live in regional cities. The RCV proposal calls for hosting and training opportunities in regional Victoria, $2 million for each of its 10 member councils to upgrade sporting facilities, $30 million for parks and open spaces and $30 million for a tourism campaign.

It also wants free cultural activities, a new local Victoria Skills Authority liaison officer based in each regional city and a commitment that regional and Indigenous-owned businesses would be at the top of procurement lists.

 

Ballarat still waiting on Commonweath Games transport plan - Today

June 8 2023 - 5:30am
 
Drone photo over Ballarat train station. Picture by Tony Ford
Drone photo over Ballarat train station. Picture by Tony Ford

Buses will play a key role in the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the government has confirmed, which is concerning city leaders about Ballarat's already dysfunctional (Melbourne designed) intra-city bus network and fears a dedicated sports-precinct rail platform for the Eureka Sports Precinct will miss out.

Public transport minister Ben Carroll, speaking before the public accounts and estimates committee on Tuesday, said "the bus network is going to be very important for the Commonwealth Games". He said there "might not be significant funds" in the 2023/24 budget, but they "very much have eyes to the future" in relation to how flexi-services would work. He said "above and beyond the V/Line network", buses would play a part in moving people between regional areas - as well as from Melbourne - into the rest of the state for the sports spectacular.

It is understood the plan for the Games will involve different modes of transport, and buses moving people between venues, villages and accommodation will play a role. With an expectation of between 20,000 and 30,000 people attending popular athletics sessions, the logistics of the buses - including where to park them or who is to drive them - are not yet clear.

A Victoria 2026 spokesperson said they were working with operators, councils and transport authorities to "develop our integrated transport plan". "This is one of the many opportunities for regional cities to show they can host large events on the world stage."

The spokesperson was unable to reveal the completion timeline for the transport plan or if it would be revealed to the public. City of Ballarat mayor Des Hudson has been advocating for a review on the local bus network, especially after hearing citizens' responses on how difficult it can be to navigate and use effectively.

General advocacy for the bus review outside of council has been ongoing for five years. While there was no funding in the budget for a Ballarat network review, Cr Hudson said they would continue with their advocacy for this project.

What about the events platform?

Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said he was "concerned that those comments [by Mr Carroll] suggest a third platform in Ballarat seems to be getting further and further away".

He said a Games platform "makes absolute sense" because of the number of people anticipated to arrive at the stadium, both for the Games but also other events into the future as the upgrades to the stadium were a part of a bigger events precinct in conjunction with the Ballarat Sport and Events Centre.

A third platform in Ballarat will also play a role in transport options as the city grows. Cr Hudson confirmed to the media the council would continue to advocate for a Games platform. This is a project they have been speaking about since 2022, first appearing in a document where they outlined the different ways the Games can deliver legacy infrastructure in Ballarat.

"I think it has a strategic purpose, not just for Commonwealth Games but I think also for Western Bulldogs or other events," Cr Hudson said. "If there are a significant number of people coming who are going to use trains to get to and from Ballarat, that would need a significant number of buses that will have to weave their way through as opposed to an extra platform a few hundred metres down the track."

Cr Hudson said this would also fit in with plans for the city's northern growth zone. "We would see it being a long-term investment about some of our transport concerns as to how we deal with our growth going forward," he said. "We'll continue to push for that and we know that other members of the community are also keen to provide that voice as well."

Mr Poulton said there was no silver bullet for our transport needs both for the 2026 Games and beyond. "A combination of active transport, foot cycling, shared transport services, public transport, train and buses will be required to get the number of people around our city," he said. "Given the state government's desire for a zero-emissions Games, any development in the bus infrastructure must be zero-emissions buses."

This could bring electric and hydrogen buses into regional areas and investigations are needed to determine our infrastructure needs to support this. Mr Poulton said if we were to look into electric buses, we would also need infrastructure like charging stations to supplement this. "There are many examples around the world of cities larger than Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong that have been able to solve this problem," he said. "We should be looking to those as examples."

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Mayor says all options on the table for Commonwealth Games village

June 8 2023 - 12:00pm
The 2026 Commonwealth Games facility has been slated for the old saleyards site in Delacombe. Picture supplied
The 2026 Commonwealth Games facility has been slated for the old saleyards site in Delacombe. Picture supplied

Ballarat's mayor says "all options" are on the table for the permanent nature of the city's athletes' village. The 2026 Commonwealth Games facility has been slated for the old saleyards site in Delacombe.

Mayor Des Hudson told the media "you don't want something that doesn't leave the right legacy". "I'm very open-minded into what it can be," he said. "If there is a situation where a mix of temporary that can be moved off-site afterwards, if that's a better option going forward, then that's something we should definitely be looking at and willing to accept." The state government has often sited the legacy of housing from an athletes' village as one of the great wins of a host city.

In October 2022, when deputy premier Jacinta Allan announced the saleyards as the village location, she said the project would be a "great legacy outcome". "Adding to Ballarat housing stock, particularly looking at how we can add to that affordable and social housing." This was an important legacy point for the City of Ballarat. In the Commonwealth Games document from July 2022, they said additional housing stock was needed and this village could provide the opportunity to create significant housing options.

Similar messages have been championed by Ballarat leaders and housing researchers. Cr Hudson said "we certainly need to get on with the job" of building the village. "We are just two years and eight months away from when we would expect athletes to be going in, the state government will be aware of those pressures. The minister has taken control of that site so it will be done under the delegation of the planning minister, which is great." The Ballarat village will include an estimated 301 new houses; tenders for soil remediation are expected to be announced in the middle of this year, while early civil works are scheduled to begin in August and construction from October 2023.

 
Now before the detractors all start getting excited, remember that the 2026 villages were always going to be a mixture of transportable and permanent homes. The transportables are likely to be a mixture of 3 and 4 bedroom houses like these and simple Granny Flats (Below) that can be used after the games by housing ministry to support elderly living with their families:
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If we consider that this was the standard for the 2006 Comm Games, then this is a good outcome:
 
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The image above clearly illustrates that the 2006 Village was a mixture of permanent and transportable houses and cabins.
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No time for event platform in Commonwealth Games | Jacinta Allan

Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton dissapointed about event platform news. Picture by Adam Trafford.
Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton disappointed about event platform news. Picture by Adam Trafford.

City leaders say a key piece of transport infrastructure has passed the city by, as the state government appears to be turning its back on the option of a rail platform for the Commonwealth Games. While the additional infrastructure would make it more simple for spectators from the Games to attend events at Mars and Selkirk stadiums, an additional platform would become a key part of the city's future transport plans.

The City of Ballarat has been advocating for this project for almost a year, but the state government has been reluctant to shed any light on its transport master plan. Commonwealth Games delivery minister Jacinta Allan said there was "simply a factor of time" when questioned about the events platform on Tuesday at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee.

Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said we were outgrowing the train infrastructure we currently had.

The Maryborough train line runs past Eureka Stadium along Creswick Road. Picture by Adam Spencer
The Maryborough train line (top left of the stadium) runs past Eureka Stadium along Creswick Road. Picture by Adam Spencer

According to the ABS there are 117,500 people in the Ballarat urban area as of June 2023, with another 25,000 more expected over the next ten years with affordable land now unlocked in the West and particularly North growth zone 1 km North of Eureka Stadium.

Despite Bendigo having a smaller population, by about 10,000 people in it's urban area, there are five train stations. 

 

Mr Poulton said an events platform could have brought forward a project we certainly would need in the future. "If we can build an athletes' village and the other infrastructure builds that we require, then an event platform at the level we're talking about is not unreasonable," he said. Mr Poulton said if the city was to move away from the reliance on cars and cark parks in the central business district, then more train options were needed. "The system is not set up right now for intra-city commuting via rail," he said. "Right now the concept of doing that is remote because the only options you have are Wendouree and Ballarat Central stations."

 

Rail futures institute president John Hearsch said there was still time to develop more rail infrastructure before the Games. "Where there's a will there's a way, and of course when there's no will there is no way," he said. Mr Hearsch said there would also need to be some more considerations into what kind of services would be required considering the limited number of services currently running on the Maryborough line, and more investigation would be needed into rail signalling as the location opposite the stadium was close to level crossings.

The platform would need to be disability-compliant, have power for lighting, and roadworks would be needed to ensure vehicle access. Mr Hearsch said the time involved sorting out the signaling would take longer than building the platform itself. "If the government made a decision today and were willing to fund it, I have no doubt that it could be in place for the Games." 

Liberal Commonwealth Games spokesperson David Southwick said in a statement it was disappointing. "Given the Commonwealth Games will be the biggest event regional Victoria has ever hosted, a dedicated events platform at Mars Stadium shouldn't be out of the question," he said. "The growth and development of Ballarat is crucial to the future of our state."

 
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Commonwealth Games 2026: 1000 days to go

Melanie Whelan
By Melanie Whelan Ballarat Courier
June 21 2023 - 4:30am
 
Shepparton's BMX rider Cooper Bromley, Gippsland badminton players Stuart Ottrey and Alicia Cook, Bendigo netballer Ruby Barkmeyer, Geelong para-triathlete Jeremy Peacock and Ballarat triple and long jumper Molly Fraser. Picture by Alex Coppel
Shepparton's BMX rider Cooper Bromley, Gippsland badminton players Stuart Ottrey and Alicia Cook, Bendigo netballer Ruby Barkmeyer, Geelong para-triathlete Jeremy Peacock and Ballarat triple and long jumper Molly Fraser. Picture by Alex Coppel.

NATIONAL under-18 triple jump champion Molly Fraser can still hardly believe the Commonwealth Games athletics program will soon arrive in her backyard. Today marks 1000 days until the 2026 Regional Victoria Commonwealth Games.

The prospect helped to spur the 17-year-old on to her gold earlier this year and offers a little extra motivation for training this winter.

"I'm really excited and I think the whole athletics community is excited but I don't think Ballarat has really started to support the idea yet and realise we're going to have world class athletes here," Molly said.

Molly hopes to follow the footsteps of Australian Olympian Brooke Buschkuehl, née Stratton, who won long jump silver in last year's Birmingham Commonwealth Games. In the week the Victorian Games opens, Molly will turn 20 years old.

She knows there is a big journey ahead in trying to qualify but was confident Ballarat had a strong pool of talent that would be in the mix to compete at Eureka Stadium.

"A lot of things need to go right to get there but I'm hoping in the future that I can compete at the Games, especially because it's in my hometown that is something that is out of this world," Molly said. "Honestly, I never ever expected them to be here."

Ballarat will host athletics' track and field program at Eureka Stadium (better known as Mars Stadium) and boxing at Ballarat Sports and Events Centre (Selkirk Stadium). Mountain biking will be in Creswick. Australia's chef de mission Petria Thomas, an Olympic swimmer, said there was plenty of excitement building across the state. "If the Games were a relay, we'd be at the first change with three legs to go," Thomas said.

"We've now visited each of the host cities and intend to formalise our delivery plans for the Australian team across the course of this year. The multi-city model presents us with a new challenge and we're tackling it head on to ensure the best high-performance environment and overall experience for Australia's team members."

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2026 Commonwealth Games: Questions Ballarat needs answered | ANALYSIS

By Alex Ford Ballarat Courier
June 21 2023 - 4:00am
 
Premier Daniel Andrews and Dame Louise Martin at the Commonwealth Games announcement in April 2022 - with concept art for a mascot, stadium, and village.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Dame Louise Martin at the Commonwealth Games announcement in April 2022 - with concept art for a mascot, stadium, and village.

To mark 1000 days until the 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony - and all the global attention that will come to Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, and Morwell - the big question on everyone's lips is; Will we be ready? Having a world spotlight on your city may be great for exposure but it also comes with the onus of getting it right.

This is not to say we don't have confidence in the Games - but there are still many unknowns and here are some key questions Ballarat wants to know to avoid a rush job. One thousand days and five questions.

WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION BEGIN?

Ballarat will get hundreds of millions of dollars worth of infrastructure upgrades, including $50 million for an accessible overpass at the Ballarat station, a new athletics track, and extra seating at Eureka Stadium. Combine that with the plans for a village that can hold at least 1800 athletes, and it's a big ask for a massive legacy for the city.

Already, tenders have gone out for several of these projects, including bonuses like a major upgrade to sports facilities in Miners Rest, and geotechnical testing has been completed at Eureka Stadium with designers appointed. But we're still in the dark as to when the heavy lifting will begin for these transformational projects, and the clock is ticking.

HOW MUCH PERMANENT HOUSING WILL BE BUILT IN DELACOMBE?

We've had ministers saying they're working on it, we've had concept designs released, we've had tenders go out for soil remediation - we've even got the exact number of bedrooms that will be available, and how many storeys each building will be.

But what Ballarat does not yet know is exactly how much of the athletes' village will be permanent new townhouses, and how many will be portable or temporary. The hope is we get an amazing new mini-suburb with full amenities for the people who need it most - the fear is that we get a new caravan park to welcome some of the world's best athletes.

HOW MUCH WILL COUNCIL HAVE TO PAY?

There's been a few questions about this in state parliament, and it seems it's a "how long is a piece of string" question. Despite the City of Ballarat appointing a new director for the Games - as well as "Economy and Experience" - councils across the state are still unsure how much they'll be asked to contribute to help put the Games on. That's in addition to the $2.6 billion over five years the state government committed in 2022, keep in mind.

HOW WILL PEOPLE GET TO THE GAMES?

We've heard that cars will be banned from around Eureka Stadium and BSEC during the Games, which will mean closing Creswick Road for at least a couple of weeks - if not much longer. If that's the case, how will crowds of up to 34,000 people make it to the two stadiums?

The plan, from what we can tell, is trains to Ballarat station and shuttle buses to the stadium, as it's a 2.6 kilometre walk back into town. While many in the city have advocated for a new events-only train platform next to the stadium, it appears it'll be unlikely to happen, given time and funding constraints, so let's hope there's a good plan to move people around.

WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN TOWN DURING THE GAMES?

Tickets to the events will be snapped up quickly - this is a once-in-a-lifetime gig - and the state government has promised cultural events and shows in the lead-up to and during the Games as well, to encourage visitors to learn about the host cities and show off a bit. 

But it's not quite clear how much money will be spent on these events, who will pay for them, or even what they will be. Could it be live music during each night in the CBD? Could it involve Traditional Owners, to show Ballaarat's long history? Could it encourage visitors to stay the night in Ballarat and try out our hospitality?

CAN WE PULL IT OFF?

There is no doubt the Commonwealth Games will be something special, and things will get really exciting in the next two-and-a-bit-years. From inspiring children and young athletes, to putting Ballarat directly on the world map for incredible experiences, to building capacity for our businesses and volunteer networks, there are so many benefits to come.

But we need certainty and confidence that things are happening now, things will happen on time, and things will be complete by the time the King's Baton makes it to the MCG for the opening ceremony on March 17, 2026. Plus they haven't picked a mascot yet.

 
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We have news on a logo - the logo will be unveiled in October.

There will be different colours for each location which I suggested early on. Will help with transporting people from Melbourne out to the regional hubs through 'wayfinding'. Will be great to finally see the final logo!

355659092_1922982801416491_1005101839176

354041453_703605298240629_42809784933772

https://resources.cwg-qbr.pulselive.com/qbr-commonwealth-games/document/2023/04/21/ca429600-35c5-429a-b668-7e0144327e1a/Brand-Visual-Identity-First-Nations-EOI.pdf

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2026 Commonwealth Games: Questions Ballarat needs answered | ANALYSIS

By Alex Ford Ballarat Courier
June 21 2023 - 4:00am
 
Premier Daniel Andrews and Dame Louise Martin at the Commonwealth Games announcement in April 2022 - with concept art for a mascot, stadium, and village.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Dame Louise Martin at the Commonwealth Games announcement in April 2022 - with concept art for a mascot, stadium, and village.

To mark 1000 days until the 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony - and all the global attention that will come to Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, and Morwell - the big question on everyone's lips is; Will we be ready? Having a world spotlight on your city may be great for exposure but it also comes with the onus of getting it right.

This is not to say we don't have confidence in the Games - but there are still many unknowns and here are some key questions Ballarat wants to know to avoid a rush job. One thousand days and five questions.

WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION BEGIN?

Ballarat will get hundreds of millions of dollars worth of infrastructure upgrades, including $50 million for an accessible overpass at the Ballarat station, a new athletics track, and extra seating at Eureka Stadium. Combine that with the plans for a village that can hold at least 1800 athletes, and it's a big ask for a massive legacy for the city.

Already, tenders have gone out for several of these projects, including bonuses like a major upgrade to sports facilities in Miners Rest, and geotechnical testing has been completed at Eureka Stadium with designers appointed. But we're still in the dark as to when the heavy lifting will begin for these transformational projects, and the clock is ticking.

HOW MUCH PERMANENT HOUSING WILL BE BUILT IN DELACOMBE?

We've had ministers saying they're working on it, we've had concept designs released, we've had tenders go out for soil remediation - we've even got the exact number of bedrooms that will be available, and how many storeys each building will be.

But what Ballarat does not yet know is exactly how much of the athletes' village will be permanent new townhouses, and how many will be portable or temporary. The hope is we get an amazing new mini-suburb with full amenities for the people who need it most - the fear is that we get a new caravan park to welcome some of the world's best athletes.

HOW MUCH WILL COUNCIL HAVE TO PAY?

There's been a few questions about this in state parliament, and it seems it's a "how long is a piece of string" question. Despite the City of Ballarat appointing a new director for the Games - as well as "Economy and Experience" - councils across the state are still unsure how much they'll be asked to contribute to help put the Games on. That's in addition to the $2.6 billion over five years the state government committed in 2022, keep in mind.

HOW WILL PEOPLE GET TO THE GAMES?

We've heard that cars will be banned from around Eureka Stadium and BSEC during the Games, which will mean closing Creswick Road for at least a couple of weeks - if not much longer. If that's the case, how will crowds of up to 34,000 people make it to the two stadiums?

The plan, from what we can tell, is trains to Ballarat station and shuttle buses to the stadium, as it's a 2.6 kilometre walk back into town. While many in the city have advocated for a new events-only train platform next to the stadium, it appears it'll be unlikely to happen, given time and funding constraints, so let's hope there's a good plan to move people around.

WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING IN TOWN DURING THE GAMES?

Tickets to the events will be snapped up quickly - this is a once-in-a-lifetime gig - and the state government has promised cultural events and shows in the lead-up to and during the Games as well, to encourage visitors to learn about the host cities and show off a bit. 

But it's not quite clear how much money will be spent on these events, who will pay for them, or even what they will be. Could it be live music during each night in the CBD? Could it involve Traditional Owners, to show Ballaarat's long history? Could it encourage visitors to stay the night in Ballarat and try out our hospitality?

CAN WE PULL IT OFF?

There is no doubt the Commonwealth Games will be something special, and things will get really exciting in the next two-and-a-bit-years. From inspiring children and young athletes, to putting Ballarat directly on the world map for incredible experiences, to building capacity for our businesses and volunteer networks, there are so many benefits to come.

But we need certainty and confidence that things are happening now, things will happen on time, and things will be complete by the time the King's Baton makes it to the MCG for the opening ceremony on March 17, 2026. Plus they haven't picked a mascot yet.

 
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4 hours ago, Victorian said:

We have news on a logo - the logo will be unveiled in October.

There will be different colours for each location which I suggested early on. Will help with transporting people from Melbourne out to the regional hubs through 'wayfinding'. Will be great to finally see the final logo!

355659092_1922982801416491_1005101839176

354041453_703605298240629_42809784933772

https://resources.cwg-qbr.pulselive.com/qbr-commonwealth-games/document/2023/04/21/ca429600-35c5-429a-b668-7e0144327e1a/Brand-Visual-Identity-First-Nations-EOI.pdf

That's good news to hear. So we have five months to the big reveal.

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