Fix our roads first, says Walsh

THE Victorian Government has signed an exclusive Heads of Agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation to bring the 2026 Commonwealth Games to the state.

But a crucial aspect of the bid is the focus on regional Victoria.

Premier Daniel Andrews and the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula confirmed on Wednesday, February 16 that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would would be hosted across the state, not just in Melbourne.

The submission will focus on a new way to host the Games, showing how events could be held in multiple locations across regional Victoria “to showcase the best of what the state has to offer and ensure a uniquely Victorian experience for the athletes and spectators”.

“Victoria is Australia’s sporting state, and, if awarded, the 2026 Commonwealth Games would demonstrate to the world a new way to deliver the competition,” said the Premier Daniel Andrews.

“We would hope to have the majority of events in our regional cities – to display the best of Victoria, create jobs and housing and infrastructure that will deliver for the long term.”

It begs the question, what events could be hosted by Bass Coast and South Gippsland; road cycling and long-course swimming events come to mind.

But the regional bid must not be allowed to whitewash problems that exist in country areas, according to Nationals Leader Peter Walsh.

Any bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria, he said, must be backed up by investment to fix country roads, rail and transport infrastructure after decades of Victorian Labor’s neglect.

“While it’s heartening Daniel Andrews has finally promised to look beyond Melbourne’s tram tracks with a bid for a ‘predominantly regional’ 2026 Commonwealth Games, decades of Labor neglect leaves our country communities exposed to disappointment,” Mr Walsh said.

“The last thing we want to see is a bid for the 2026 Commonwealth Games fail because our regional transport infrastructure isn’t up to the job of carrying major crowds.

“Our country roads and bridges are crumbling, following Labor’s decision to axe the crucial Country Roads and Bridges Program which was ensuring our local roads were safe and well-maintained.

“Regional public transport is in disarray after cuts to the VLine budget and timeline blowouts on desperately-needed upgrades to regional rail lines.

“Victoria needs a positive plan for recovery that gives confidence and certainty to invest the money and resources in a bid for a major international event like the Commonwealth Games.” Mr Walsh said.

“Victoria’s reputation for hosting world-class events has been battered by lockdowns and nearly three years of cancelled events. Any bid to host the Commonwealth Games must be backed up with initiatives that restore confidence in the events sector and rebuild local jobs, including a comprehensive plan forward for Victoria’s events industry.

“Nearly three years of pandemic has battered our regional economies. Small towns and regional cities face a long road ahead to recover and rebuild,” Mr Walsh said.

“Regional communities must be part of an open and transparent process to put together a bid that will deliver the strongest benefits for regional Victoria to recover and rebuild.”