By Luke Voogt
Kardinia Park Stadium Trust has failed to deliver enough off season events to Geelong, according to Victoria’s shadow sports minister.
“Labor promised that the trust would be self-sufficient and would deliver more events but so far we’re still waiting,” National MP Danny O’Brien said.
“There has been considerable investment into Kardinia Park and we would expect taxpayers to get good value for money for that investment.”
Mr O’Brien’s accusation comes after former Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons slammed the trust for doing “nothing” with Kardinia Park.
The trust last week announced one event for the stadium in the off season: the return Australian Supercross Championship to Geelong on 13 October.
The Trust in 2017 secured a two-year deal which will see it host another Melbourne Victory A-League game this summer.
But a crowd of 8370 at the stadium during scorching hot weather on 6 January was the smallest for a Melbourne Victory game in Victoria in the A-League’s 13-year history.
The government provided $4.4 million to the trust during 2016/2017 after establishing it in 2016 to administer the stadium.
The trust recorded a surplus of $311,000, according to its 2017 annual report.
State and federal governments and other organisations have invested $177 million in redeveloping the stadium’s stands since 2003.
Estimates for the fifth and final stage of the stadium’s redevelopment range from $90 million to $100 million, bringing the total investment to more than a quarter of a billion dollars.
Mr O’Brien criticised State Government plans to spend $225 million on redeveloping Etihad Stadium in Docklands.
“Unfortunately the Andrews Labor Government is very good at making big headline announcements but not so good at following through and delivering for Victorians,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Labor’s sport and major events strategy has been very city-focussed and Daniel Andrews is more interested in handing a $225 million free kick to the AFL for Etihad Stadium than supporting regional sport.”
Trust chief executive officer Michael Brown last week refused to engage with Mr Lyons’ social media criticism.
“The trust respects the rights of social media users, but does not feel it necessary to respond to commentary such as this,” he said.
“Wednesday’s Supercross announcement was the beginning of an exciting calendar of events to be held at GMHBA Stadium during the AFL off-season.“
But he declined to specify what these events would be.
The trust would announce more “exciting events” in the future, according to a Victorian Government spokesperson.
“We’re investing in Kardinia Park Stadium to ensure Geelong has a world class facility that can host the Cats as well as other major events and sports.
“(Kardinia Park Stadium) also gives Victoria another wonderful stadium to use as part of bids for major events and tournaments, and the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust do a great job managing the precinct.”
