Victorian Posted June 22, 2023 Report Posted June 22, 2023 https://www.bay939.com.au/news/local-news/140665-groth-commonwealth-games-must-deliver Quote
RooBlu Posted June 22, 2023 Report Posted June 22, 2023 The State Government have released tenders today for a V2026 Athletes Villages construction project manager. The attached documents to the tender are extensive and detailed, illustrating layouts, details of site soil investigation works etc. A separate document details that the standard of the accommodation to be provided should be consistent with modern Australian housing standards with examples of housing designs to be used as a guide. Of note is that most of these documents were produced as far back as October 2022 with the Ballarat paperwork being finalised much later around March 2023. So we might assume that detailed architectural planning would be underway at this point. Site layouts for the villages during and after the Games are detailed for Bendigo, Morwell, Geelong and Ballarat. Ballarat's village is on the most contaminated site but the affected areas are highlighted and identified to be cleared before any construction will begin. Probably one of the significant takeaway points to these documents is that much planning is being done and consolidated months before public releases. So we might assume that design works for new sports stadiums in Ballarat and Geelong and the upgrades at Gippsland and Bendigo are well advanced at this point. 1 Quote
TorchbearerSydney Posted June 23, 2023 Report Posted June 23, 2023 Talking of Comm Games- it is 7 years until CWG 2030.......about time they were awarded????? Things have been a bit quiet, is it going to be another case of late and desperate? Quote
Victorian Posted June 23, 2023 Report Posted June 23, 2023 25 minutes ago, TorchbearerSydney said: Talking of Comm Games- it is 7 years until CWG 2030.......about time they were awarded????? Things have been a bit quiet, is it going to be another case of late and desperate? They are giving Alberta time with the expectation to announce a host by the end of the year. 1 Quote
RooBlu Posted June 23, 2023 Report Posted June 23, 2023 4 hours ago, TorchbearerSydney said: Talking of Comm Games- it is 7 years until CWG 2030.......about time they were awarded????? Things have been a bit quiet, is it going to be another case of late and desperate? I do suspect that if regional Victoria can successfully pull off the 2026 Games then we will see several bids for the 2034 Games. 1 Quote
AustralianFan Posted June 24, 2023 Author Report Posted June 24, 2023 On 6/21/2023 at 8:59 AM, 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! 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 Great find @Victorian. Six Artworks It’s good to see that organisers are seeking to commission artworks by First Nations artists to represent the five regions hosting the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games: ● Ballarat / Wadawurrung ● Bendigo / Dja Dja Wurrung ● Geelong / Wadawurrung ● Gippsland / Gunaikurnai ● Shepparton / Yorta Yorta At the Games Opening Ceremony, athletes and visitors will be welcomed for the first time. As this will be held at the MCG, we’re also seeking a sixth artwork to represent ● Melbourne / Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung. The Games will be spread across Victoria’s Regional Centres in an event which will be co-hosted by Traditional Owners. The design system will feature multiple artworks by First Nations artists to recognise the many countries on which these Games will be held. As @Victorian said, each Country/region will be assigned a colour. The six artworks will become part of the Victoria 2026 Games visual identity. Quote
RooBlu Posted June 26, 2023 Report Posted June 26, 2023 From this morning's Ballarat Courier: All Commonwealth Games housing to be temporary in Ballarat Former saleyard site in 2021. Picture by Kate Healy. Ballarat will miss out on housing "legacy" as documents reveal all homes in its 2026 Commonwealth Games athletes' village will be temporary. But as plans for the site become clearer, the reconnection of Gillies Street South is now on the table. New documents released as part of the state government tender process for the Games reveal all homes in the Ballarat village will be "relocatable". The current tender is looking for a project manager, superintendent's representative and quantity surveying roles across the four villages in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland. The project brief put together on May 30 outlines how many townhouses are expected to be built at each village. Bendigo will have 178 homes built, Geelong 179, Gippsland 79 and Ballarat will have no permanent townhouses. The document says all sites will have relocatable units, but the numbers are still "to be confirmed". Bendigo and Geelong will also have apartments, but these numbers are also not stated. This has changed from tender documents released in February which said 28 one-bedroom townhouses, 152 two-bedroom houses, 96 three-bedroom houses, and 25 four-bedroom houses would be built in Ballarat. The May brief states Ballarat will "predominantly feature relocatable type housing" during the Games. Bendigo will "comprise medium density residential dwellings" and land in Geelong will be "improved with townhouses of various configurations". The villages have been promoted as a way to increase housing stock in the regions since the Games were announced for Victoria in April 2022. Over the past month, ministers have confirmed other regional councils have asked for village houses to be taken to different areas. Designs for the relocatable houses are expected to be completed by quarter four, 2023 and work on townhouses is expected by the end of 2023 while relocatable work should start by Q1, 2024. Draft plan after the Commonwealth Games. Pictures supplied. Tender documents reveal work will continue on the villages after the Games so they can be prepared for sale to new "legacy owners" by Q2, 2027. One drawback of the saleyards site is the expensive remediation work needed after 150 years of dead livestock burials and contamination from drenches and faeces. A preliminary site investigation for the saleyards site and the intended use in the Commonwealth Games was produced by Stantec in August 2022. Remediation considerations A environmental site assessment was then given to Development Victoria in December and a draft environmental works plan from February 2023 was included in the tender documents. The draft works plan said Development Victoria's remediation preference was "for the impacted soils to be removed off-site". Arsenic is among the chemicals which need to be removed from the soil. The December site assessment recommended more soil analysis so it is clear what needs to be done once soil is taken off-site. It is also recommended the pond onsite is drained and sediment at the bottom is removed to "further reduce risk of contamination migration". The proposed master plans indicate the 1909 administration building and 1963 selling pavilion are under heritage protection and will remain on site with designs working around the buildings. Gillies Street South Options A transport plan for the site has also been put together by ARUP in May 2023. The document notes there are opportunities for improved walking and cycling infrastructure near the site in line with City of Ballarat and state government strategies. It said there would be an opportunity to create a new bus route or reroute a service as well as connect walking paths from the site to Victoria Park and into the central business district. A Victorian Government spokesperson said the villages would have social and affordable housing "that will be able to be distributed around Victoria to areas in need". The government said it was "continuing to invest across regional Victoria" and the Games would "leave a long-lasting legacy across all Victorian communities". Quote
Victorian Posted June 26, 2023 Report Posted June 26, 2023 https://www.news.com.au/national/social-housing-money-could-go-towards-building-commonwealth-games-athlete-villages/video/64008851b6d0036ae96495ee748b3c78 Quote
RooBlu Posted June 27, 2023 Report Posted June 27, 2023 From Ballarat Courier - Yesterday Afternoon Federal government proposes funding offer for Commonwealth Games Old saleyards site in Delacombe in May 2022. Picture supplied. Federal funding avenues for the Commonwealth Games are slowly progressing, with confirmation an offer has been made. Infrastructure minister Catherine King said the federal government had "a small ask on the table from the Victorian government" and negotiations were ongoing. The state government has set aside $2.6 billion in the 2022/23 budget for the Commonwealth Games in 2026. This is expected to include "contributions from the Commonwealth government and local government", but exact figures are yet to be released. Geelong council has already spoken out about their inability to front up large sums of money for the games. Ms King said this is not usually something the federal government could be involved in, but would be looking to spaces where their goals align. "We're keen that there is a legacy left behind [for] both sporting and social infrastructure," the federal member for Ballarat said. "We've said very clearly that our interest is ... in relation to the villages and social and affordable housing." Tender documents for the Ballarat village reveal all housing planned for the former saleyards site in Delacombe will be relocatable. Meanwhile Bendigo and Geelong will have over 170 permanent townhouses in addition to temporary buildings. Ms King said she wanted to see the Commonwealth Games deliver a "fantastic" event. "I want to see Ballarat put on the map, nationally and internationally so that people know what a fabulous place it is to visit and live," she said. Quote
Victorian Posted June 28, 2023 Report Posted June 28, 2023 https://www.3aw.com.au/questions-raised-over-victorian-government-commonwealth-games-funding/ https://amp.abc.net.au/article/102535970 https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/8249943/revealed-doubts-red-energy-arena-will-host-comm-games-basketball/ Quote
Victorian Posted June 28, 2023 Report Posted June 28, 2023 https://infrastructuremagazine.com.au/2023/06/15/expanding-victorias-regional-airports-for-the-2026-commonwealth-games/ Quote
Victorian Posted June 30, 2023 Report Posted June 30, 2023 Survey about transport options for GMHBA Stadium (Kardinia Park). The Stadium will host Cricket Finals and the Closing Ceremony at Victoria 2026. Quote
Victorian Posted June 30, 2023 Report Posted June 30, 2023 https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/commonwealth-games-fears-hope-for-permanent-social-housing-will-not-come-true/news-story/0c91dc5af3e04a98d409d6fe0cff630d Quote
Victorian Posted June 30, 2023 Report Posted June 30, 2023 Looks like we have an answer (even though it was quite obvious!) The Queen's Baton Relay has been renamed the King's Baton Relay. https://www.tenders.vic.gov.au/tender/view?id=253330 Victoria 2026 is seeking supplier/s for the design, fabrication, supply and delivery of the Victoria 2026 Baton (the “Baton”) and all associated accessories (the “Goods”) for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games King’s Baton Relay (the “KBR”). The KBR is an epic journey across the Commonwealth that aims to unite all countries and territories in preparation for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games. Quote
Victorian Posted July 2, 2023 Report Posted July 2, 2023 https://amp.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/hooroo-roos-the-plan-to-bounce-kangaroos-from-commonwealth-games-site-20230629-p5dkdq.html Quote
ulu Posted July 4, 2023 Report Posted July 4, 2023 What is it? Not gonna give Sky News a click. Quote
RooBlu Posted July 4, 2023 Report Posted July 4, 2023 The Ballarat Courier ran a story a couple of hours ago about an online peition for an events platform at Eureka Stadium. I will put the full details up tomorrow. Quote
Victorian Posted July 6, 2023 Report Posted July 6, 2023 Ballarat Marathon established. The new event will help with preparing for the games. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/ballarat/ballarat-marathon-announced-for-early-next-year/news-story/e41144e9066d2dc4c104f7a71d43db2e?amp Quote
RooBlu Posted July 8, 2023 Report Posted July 8, 2023 Pressure is mounting from the Ballarat community and political leaders to build the train platform adjacent to Eureka Stadium: An online petition has been started: https://www.johnpesutto.com.au/survey/build-a-train-event-platform-at-mars-stadium-ballarat Various articles have been published in print and online, here are a couple: The Ballarat Times (7th July) Concern over Comm Games legacy POLITICIANS and community members gathered a Mars Stadium this week urging the State Government to reconsider legacy options for the Commonwealth Games, including a train station at Mars Stadium. Shadow minister for the Commonwealth Games, David Southwick, was joined fellow Liberal MPs Joe McCracken and Bevery McArthur to call for the infrastructure. “The Commonwealth games is not just about a 10-day sporting event, it’s about an important legacy that’s left behind,” said Mr Southwick. As part of his visit to Ballarat Mr Southwick announced the launch of a webpage to push for the train station – buildtheplatform.com.au and urged residents to visit the site to help ensure a new platform gets build opposite Mars Stadium. “There’s legacy opportunities right at our front door here at Mars Stadium with the duplication of Creswick Road and importantly the events platform,” said Mr Southwick. “That events platform is not just about the Commonwealth Games, it’s not just about sport, the AFL and all the events at Mars Stadium, it’s about ensuring that as populations start to grow in the north, we’ve got that station here to be able to accommodate them.” Also at the Creswick Road event was Commerce Ballarat CEO Jodie Gillett, Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society committee member Geoffrey Norman, Committee for Ballarat CEO Michael Poulton. Ms Gillett expressed concern about what will happen if a train platform is not built. “Two weeks for an event is not what we’re looking for to leave behind,” she said. “We have to have legacy and the platform will give us the opportunity to hold a lot of other sporting events and music events at the stadium to see it bringing tourists to town on going. “Reality also has to come in, we’ve got 30,000 people per session, how do we transport them without a platform here?” A spokesperson for the State Government said that a transport strategy is currently being developed and will include rail, road, and bus options, however, a new platform is not possible in the time frame. “We have delivered significant investments in transport for the Ballarat community, with an extra 135 V/Line services running every week,” the spokesperson said. “We’re also investing $50 million to upgrade Ballarat’s historic train station, improving accessibility and capacity at the heritage listed site ahead of the Commonwealth Games.” Mr Southwick rejected the idea that there wasn’t enough time to build a platform. “Jacinta Allan and the Labor Government says that they’ve run out of time, but we know just up the road at Wendouree Station it took 13 months to build that platform,” he said. “If they can do Wendouree Station in 13 months, they can do this in just under three years. Inside the Games - Today Pressure builds on Australian Government to build Ballarat Stadium rail platform for Victoria 2026 The Australian Government is coming under renewed pressure from opposition politicians to build a new train platform in Ballarat in preparation for the 2026 Victoria Commonwealth Games. Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, which will be upgraded prior to 2026 and play host to various track and field events, runs parallel to the railway track and members of the opposition party claim it requires a purpose-built platform to avoid congestion in the regional city when thousands flock there. The Liberal/National Coalition said the dedicated platform would "only require a simple concrete structure", and more work could be done after the Commonwealth Games to develop it so that it could then be used for other special events, including Australian Football League games. But in June at a Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, Minister for the Commonwealth Games Jacinta Allan rejected the idea due to time constraints around the project. The coalition are urging Allan to reconsider her decision, pointing to a similar project undertaken at Wendouree. Jacinta Allan, Minister for the Commonwealth Games, is coming under increasing pressure to change her position over providing a railway platform for Ballarat's Mars Stadium for the Victoria 2026 Games ©Getty Images The Member for Western Victoria Region, Joe McCracken, said the Government needs to invest in crucial infrastructure for the future of Ballarat. "The Commonwealth Games are so important to the development of regional Victoria and we must capitalise on that momentum," he said, as quoted by skynews.com.au. "These Games are about so much more than the two weeks of sport. "We must invest in the infrastructure of tomorrow while we have the chance." The Labour Government elected into power last year is estimating that the Commonwealth Games will contribute more than AUS$3 billion (£1.6 billion/$2 billion/€1.8 billion) to the state economy. It also projects "more than 600 full-time equivalent jobs before the Games, 3,900 jobs during the Games and a further 3,000 jobs after it ends". Victoria was named host of the event last year, with the Games to take place exclusively in the regional hubs of Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. The National Tribune - 4th July Mars Stadium event platform a necessary step for Ballarat’s future A dedicated events train platform at Mars Stadium in Ballarat is needed to support the growth of one of Victoria’s major regional cities. Despite the rail line running parallel to the stadium and an events platform being identified as an important project for the city’s northern growth zone, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan, has poured cold water on plans. During Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearings last month, Ms Allan said there was not enough time to deliver the infrastructure, despite taking just 13 months to complete a similar platform at Wendouree. A dedicated events platform at Mars Stadium would only require a simple concrete structure where spectators can safely board and disembark train services. Further development of the station could take place after the Commonwealth Games are finished. With the Games coming to regional Victoria in under three years’ time, we must do all we can to deliver the infrastructure needed now and into the future, and the Liberals and Nationals call on Minister Allan to reconsider her decision. Shadow Minister for the Commonwealth Games, David Southwick, said instead of clogging Ballarat’s streets with hundreds of shuttle busses, a dedicated train platform would get spectators to and from the stadium safety and effectively. “As well as ruling out an events platform, Jacinta Allan has shut down any plan to duplicate Creswick Road, and the question on everyone’s mind is: why?” Mr Southwick said. “The Andrews Government should listen to calls from the community, council and industry leaders and build the platform.” Member for Western Victoria Region, Joe McCracken, said the Andrews Government needed to provide certainty to the community that the future of Ballarat was taken into consideration. “The Commonwealth Games are so important to the development of regional Victoria and we must capitalise on that momentum,” Mr McCracken said. “These Games are about so much more than the two weeks of sport. We must invest in the infrastructure of tomorrow while we have the chance.” 3BA Ballarat Online petition aims to get events train platform built A Western Victorian MP has hit out at the State Government for refusing to build an events train platform at Mars Stadium, in time for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Coalition yesterday launched an online petition in Ballarat called ‘Build the Platform’, despite Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan saying there was not enough time to deliver the infrastructure. However, Joe McCracken says it can be built in time. “It’s just a no-brainer really for Ballarat, and we’ve seen the Minister [and] Deputy Premier say that it’s a matter of time. That’s the constraint that is stopping this from happening,” he said. “It’s not a matter of time, it’s a matter of money. The money’s dried up and they’re just not willing to fund it.” Ballarat Courier - 5th July Petition for an events platform in Ballarat launched ahead of Commonwealth Games 2026 Geoff Notman, Jodie Gillett, Michael Poulton and Liberal Party MPs Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken and David Southwick would all like to see an events platform opposite Eureka Stadium. Picture by Nieve Walton. Ballarat community leaders are continuing to call on the state government to invest in transport infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games and beyond. An events platform near Eureka Stadium, commonly known as Mars Stadium, has long been a project community advocates have been championing for. The City of Ballarat has also highlighted the Commonwealth Games as a perfect opportunity to invest in additional train infrastructure. Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said an events platform would be vital for growth in the region and the future of the events precinct. "This stadium has so much potential, we can bring large music events and large sporting events to Ballarat," she said. "That's an investment in our economy and that's what we need." Ms Gillett said the area around Eureka Stadium needs work. "We've got a train going right past the door," she said. "How do we transport 3000 to 5000 people per train in 50 seat buses during the Games? "It's a question that I've asked multiple times." Ms Gillett said the last AFL games hosted at Eureka Stadium in May between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows demonstrated the development needed. On May 20, trains were replaced by buses because of work on the line and spectators from the sold out games chose to drive instead. "We had around 10,000 people that day and it was chaos, there were cars everywhere," Ms Gillett said. "How much cleaner and wonderful would it be if we can get people out of their cars, get them onto a train and drop them off at the front door?" Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said the platform was imperative for the city's growth areas. "We see in Ballarat's west what happens when you don't build infrastructure for population growth," he said. "We know what's coming when we think about population growth - it would be crazy not to build an events platform that in time becomes a fully functional railway station to cater to that." While speaking before the state government's public accounts and estimate committee, Commonwealth Games delivery minister Jacinta Allan said time was one of the reasons why an events platform was not on the table. Mr Poulton said they were not going to accept this. Opposition spokesperson for the Commonwealth Games David Southwick said the Commonwealth Games is about more than a 10 day sporting event. Eureka Stadium. Picture by Adam Spencer. "It's about the important legacy that's left behind, whether it be accommodation, housing, public transport infrastructure, sports, community facilities, they're all the things Ballarat locals expect," he said. "We can't have the government flick the switch and say they've run out of time and run out of money and all they're going to deliver is a 10 day sporting event." "We've reached out to the Minister for Commonwealth Games to meet with her directly at this point in time we haven't had a response," he said. "We don't accept there isn't the money because Ballarat needs to be invested in, we feel we're being shortchanged, without something like an event platform." Mr Southwick is running an online petition to continue their advocacy for the project. A government spokesperson said in a statement they were delivering "significant investments in transport for the Ballarat community". "We're also investing $50 million to upgrade Ballarat's historic train station, improving accessibility and capacity at the heritage listed site ahead of the Commonwealth Games." It is understood the government is working on a transport strategy for the games which will include road, rail and bus options to be released before ticket sales. Quote
Victorian Posted July 10, 2023 Report Posted July 10, 2023 On 7/8/2023 at 12:38 PM, RooBlu said: Pressure is mounting from the Ballarat community and political leaders to build the train platform adjacent to Eureka Stadium: An online petition has been started: https://www.johnpesutto.com.au/survey/build-a-train-event-platform-at-mars-stadium-ballarat Various articles have been published in print and online, here are a couple: The Ballarat Times (7th July) Concern over Comm Games legacy POLITICIANS and community members gathered a Mars Stadium this week urging the State Government to reconsider legacy options for the Commonwealth Games, including a train station at Mars Stadium. Shadow minister for the Commonwealth Games, David Southwick, was joined fellow Liberal MPs Joe McCracken and Bevery McArthur to call for the infrastructure. “The Commonwealth games is not just about a 10-day sporting event, it’s about an important legacy that’s left behind,” said Mr Southwick. As part of his visit to Ballarat Mr Southwick announced the launch of a webpage to push for the train station – buildtheplatform.com.au and urged residents to visit the site to help ensure a new platform gets build opposite Mars Stadium. “There’s legacy opportunities right at our front door here at Mars Stadium with the duplication of Creswick Road and importantly the events platform,” said Mr Southwick. “That events platform is not just about the Commonwealth Games, it’s not just about sport, the AFL and all the events at Mars Stadium, it’s about ensuring that as populations start to grow in the north, we’ve got that station here to be able to accommodate them.” Also at the Creswick Road event was Commerce Ballarat CEO Jodie Gillett, Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society committee member Geoffrey Norman, Committee for Ballarat CEO Michael Poulton. Ms Gillett expressed concern about what will happen if a train platform is not built. “Two weeks for an event is not what we’re looking for to leave behind,” she said. “We have to have legacy and the platform will give us the opportunity to hold a lot of other sporting events and music events at the stadium to see it bringing tourists to town on going. “Reality also has to come in, we’ve got 30,000 people per session, how do we transport them without a platform here?” A spokesperson for the State Government said that a transport strategy is currently being developed and will include rail, road, and bus options, however, a new platform is not possible in the time frame. “We have delivered significant investments in transport for the Ballarat community, with an extra 135 V/Line services running every week,” the spokesperson said. “We’re also investing $50 million to upgrade Ballarat’s historic train station, improving accessibility and capacity at the heritage listed site ahead of the Commonwealth Games.” Mr Southwick rejected the idea that there wasn’t enough time to build a platform. “Jacinta Allan and the Labor Government says that they’ve run out of time, but we know just up the road at Wendouree Station it took 13 months to build that platform,” he said. “If they can do Wendouree Station in 13 months, they can do this in just under three years. Inside the Games - Today Pressure builds on Australian Government to build Ballarat Stadium rail platform for Victoria 2026 The Australian Government is coming under renewed pressure from opposition politicians to build a new train platform in Ballarat in preparation for the 2026 Victoria Commonwealth Games. Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, which will be upgraded prior to 2026 and play host to various track and field events, runs parallel to the railway track and members of the opposition party claim it requires a purpose-built platform to avoid congestion in the regional city when thousands flock there. The Liberal/National Coalition said the dedicated platform would "only require a simple concrete structure", and more work could be done after the Commonwealth Games to develop it so that it could then be used for other special events, including Australian Football League games. But in June at a Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, Minister for the Commonwealth Games Jacinta Allan rejected the idea due to time constraints around the project. The coalition are urging Allan to reconsider her decision, pointing to a similar project undertaken at Wendouree. Jacinta Allan, Minister for the Commonwealth Games, is coming under increasing pressure to change her position over providing a railway platform for Ballarat's Mars Stadium for the Victoria 2026 Games ©Getty Images The Member for Western Victoria Region, Joe McCracken, said the Government needs to invest in crucial infrastructure for the future of Ballarat. "The Commonwealth Games are so important to the development of regional Victoria and we must capitalise on that momentum," he said, as quoted by skynews.com.au. "These Games are about so much more than the two weeks of sport. "We must invest in the infrastructure of tomorrow while we have the chance." The Labour Government elected into power last year is estimating that the Commonwealth Games will contribute more than AUS$3 billion (£1.6 billion/$2 billion/€1.8 billion) to the state economy. It also projects "more than 600 full-time equivalent jobs before the Games, 3,900 jobs during the Games and a further 3,000 jobs after it ends". Victoria was named host of the event last year, with the Games to take place exclusively in the regional hubs of Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland. The National Tribune - 4th July Mars Stadium event platform a necessary step for Ballarat’s future A dedicated events train platform at Mars Stadium in Ballarat is needed to support the growth of one of Victoria’s major regional cities. Despite the rail line running parallel to the stadium and an events platform being identified as an important project for the city’s northern growth zone, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan, has poured cold water on plans. During Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearings last month, Ms Allan said there was not enough time to deliver the infrastructure, despite taking just 13 months to complete a similar platform at Wendouree. A dedicated events platform at Mars Stadium would only require a simple concrete structure where spectators can safely board and disembark train services. Further development of the station could take place after the Commonwealth Games are finished. With the Games coming to regional Victoria in under three years’ time, we must do all we can to deliver the infrastructure needed now and into the future, and the Liberals and Nationals call on Minister Allan to reconsider her decision. Shadow Minister for the Commonwealth Games, David Southwick, said instead of clogging Ballarat’s streets with hundreds of shuttle busses, a dedicated train platform would get spectators to and from the stadium safety and effectively. “As well as ruling out an events platform, Jacinta Allan has shut down any plan to duplicate Creswick Road, and the question on everyone’s mind is: why?” Mr Southwick said. “The Andrews Government should listen to calls from the community, council and industry leaders and build the platform.” Member for Western Victoria Region, Joe McCracken, said the Andrews Government needed to provide certainty to the community that the future of Ballarat was taken into consideration. “The Commonwealth Games are so important to the development of regional Victoria and we must capitalise on that momentum,” Mr McCracken said. “These Games are about so much more than the two weeks of sport. We must invest in the infrastructure of tomorrow while we have the chance.” 3BA Ballarat Online petition aims to get events train platform built A Western Victorian MP has hit out at the State Government for refusing to build an events train platform at Mars Stadium, in time for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Coalition yesterday launched an online petition in Ballarat called ‘Build the Platform’, despite Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan saying there was not enough time to deliver the infrastructure. However, Joe McCracken says it can be built in time. “It’s just a no-brainer really for Ballarat, and we’ve seen the Minister [and] Deputy Premier say that it’s a matter of time. That’s the constraint that is stopping this from happening,” he said. “It’s not a matter of time, it’s a matter of money. The money’s dried up and they’re just not willing to fund it.” Ballarat Courier - 5th July Petition for an events platform in Ballarat launched ahead of Commonwealth Games 2026 Geoff Notman, Jodie Gillett, Michael Poulton and Liberal Party MPs Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken and David Southwick would all like to see an events platform opposite Eureka Stadium. Picture by Nieve Walton. Ballarat community leaders are continuing to call on the state government to invest in transport infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games and beyond. An events platform near Eureka Stadium, commonly known as Mars Stadium, has long been a project community advocates have been championing for. The City of Ballarat has also highlighted the Commonwealth Games as a perfect opportunity to invest in additional train infrastructure. Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said an events platform would be vital for growth in the region and the future of the events precinct. "This stadium has so much potential, we can bring large music events and large sporting events to Ballarat," she said. "That's an investment in our economy and that's what we need." Ms Gillett said the area around Eureka Stadium needs work. "We've got a train going right past the door," she said. "How do we transport 3000 to 5000 people per train in 50 seat buses during the Games? "It's a question that I've asked multiple times." Ms Gillett said the last AFL games hosted at Eureka Stadium in May between the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows demonstrated the development needed. On May 20, trains were replaced by buses because of work on the line and spectators from the sold out games chose to drive instead. "We had around 10,000 people that day and it was chaos, there were cars everywhere," Ms Gillett said. "How much cleaner and wonderful would it be if we can get people out of their cars, get them onto a train and drop them off at the front door?" Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said the platform was imperative for the city's growth areas. "We see in Ballarat's west what happens when you don't build infrastructure for population growth," he said. "We know what's coming when we think about population growth - it would be crazy not to build an events platform that in time becomes a fully functional railway station to cater to that." While speaking before the state government's public accounts and estimate committee, Commonwealth Games delivery minister Jacinta Allan said time was one of the reasons why an events platform was not on the table. Mr Poulton said they were not going to accept this. Opposition spokesperson for the Commonwealth Games David Southwick said the Commonwealth Games is about more than a 10 day sporting event. Eureka Stadium. Picture by Adam Spencer. "It's about the important legacy that's left behind, whether it be accommodation, housing, public transport infrastructure, sports, community facilities, they're all the things Ballarat locals expect," he said. "We can't have the government flick the switch and say they've run out of time and run out of money and all they're going to deliver is a 10 day sporting event." "We've reached out to the Minister for Commonwealth Games to meet with her directly at this point in time we haven't had a response," he said. "We don't accept there isn't the money because Ballarat needs to be invested in, we feel we're being shortchanged, without something like an event platform." Mr Southwick is running an online petition to continue their advocacy for the project. A government spokesperson said in a statement they were delivering "significant investments in transport for the Ballarat community". "We're also investing $50 million to upgrade Ballarat's historic train station, improving accessibility and capacity at the heritage listed site ahead of the Commonwealth Games." It is understood the government is working on a transport strategy for the games which will include road, rail and bus options to be released before ticket sales. I think that we will see the station built. They will cave in. Quote
Victorian Posted July 13, 2023 Report Posted July 13, 2023 https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/8269341/how-many-buses-will-we-need-for-the-commonwealth-games/ Quote
Victorian Posted July 17, 2023 Report Posted July 17, 2023 COMM GAMES BEING MOVED TO MELBOURNE. Big news here More to come… Quote
Victorian Posted July 17, 2023 Report Posted July 17, 2023 https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/fears-grow-over-looming-changes-to-victorias-commonwealth-games/news-story/a799de241572eee999ae92a932d648c0?amp Quote
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