A community group that represents ratepayers in Greater Geelong has voiced its concern over how leftover funding will be used following the cancellation of the Victorian 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Premier Dan Andrews announced on Tuesday, July 18, that the Commonwealth Games would not be held in Victoria in 2026.
Ratepayers Geelong president Peter Mitchell said it was a “pity” to lose a “good showcase for the region”.
“The influx of people to the region, the world attention, and recognition of our region which would lead to on-going tourism and income, will now not happen,” he said.
“Any large sporting event brings a large increase in the local economy, and the assets built for the Games would have been an ongoing benefit to the area for many years.”
Mr Mitchell said he believed “it could be a good thing” to have the Commonwealth Games scrapped for Victoria given that the reasons and figures provided by Premier Andrews “are correct”.
“The Games were a single large event that was drawing resources away from many smaller initiatives that can now happen,” he said.
“With the Games now cancelled there must be significant surplus, not only in money, but in freed resources of various sorts. How those are deployed will determine if the end result is good or bad.”
Mr Mitchell said the cancelled games’ effect on local ratepayers depended on how the City of Greater Geelong and the state would react.
“If the allocated funds from the state are distributed to the regions as planned, ideally in the same proportions and for similar purposes, the ratepayers will get at least some of the benefit,” he said.
“Given the troubles that the budget caused, I hope they will quickly review it and properly fund things such as the libraries, lifesaving and pools.
“I also hope they re-consider the jobs lost in the recent re-structure, all of which will be good for the ratepayer.”
