Tuesday, 7 March 2023

 Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery) (14:31): I am delighted to update the house on the tremendous strides the Andrews Labor government is making in having regional Victoria ready for the 2026 Commonwealth Games and in particular how just today we have announced that we have gone out to market looking for local civil construction firms to partner with us to help us build the four athlete villages that will be home during the period of the games to 7000 athletes and officials. Expressions of interest are open right now, inviting businesses to apply for work that will be happening across Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Morwell. Certainly we see this as a tremendous opportunity not just for regional businesses to be part of the games –

Members interjecting.

The SPEAKER: Member for Polwarth, you can leave the chamber for 1 hour.

Member for Polwarth withdrew from chamber.

Jacinta ALLAN: but also to broaden out the opportunities within the supply chain that will support more jobs right across regional Victoria. I am pleased to say we are not wasting a day in getting this important work underway, because there are only 1109 days until the Commonwealth Games get underway. We have got site investigations already underway at the athletes villages, with major construction work to start later this year. And can I say thank you to those local councils who are working with us constructively and well, partnering with us because of those opportunities that they see to deliver a fantastic games.

Speaker, you know in Bendigo that the athletes village there will be home to the world’s best track cyclists, basketballers and netballers at the site in Flora Hill. I know the member for Wendouree and I had a walk around the site – oh, I think she is otherwise occupied, thanks to the Speaker – in Wendouree that will be home to a new community next to Victoria Park. The member for South Barwon is all over the site at Waurn Ponds next to the train station, and that will have a valuable housing legacy to come. In Morwell too geotech work has already started, and it will be home to the athletes for the five sports there.