In a major blow for Ballarat and regional Victoria, the 2026 Commonwealth Games, set to partly be held in the city, will not go ahead.
Last year, Ballarat was named as the games host city for athletics, para-athletics and boxing.
Addressing the media this morning, Premier Dan Andrews cancelled the event due to a cost blowout, with the true cost of the games likely to be closer to $6 or 7 billion dollars, rather than the $2.6 billion budgeted.
He said instead of the games, a $2 billion regional spending package will be rolled out.
This includes upgrades at Ballarat sporting facilities, including upgrading Mars Stadium to seat 10,000 spectators, construction of a new athletics facility in the city, upgrades to mountain bike facilities at Creswick and construction of community sporting facilities at Miners Rest.
A $1 billion regional housing fund to build 1,300 new homes across regional Victoria will be included in the package.
