The deputy leader of the state opposition has compared Ballarat’s contaminated saleyards site to the Westgate Tunnel projects toxic soil.
The state government says it plans to house 1800 athletes and officials in transportable buildings on the site for the Commonwealth Games in 2026.
David Southwick, who visited Ballarat this week, says the cost of the clean-up is still yet to be revealed.
“It’s interesting that the Westgate Tunnel had similar kinds of contamination and took a couple of years to move that soil.”
“We still don’t have any actual reports of when, how, where the soil is going to go, or what it is going to cost,” Mr. Southwick said.
Meantime, Liberal Member for Western Victoria Region, Joe McCracken, said Ballarat residents deserved world-class community infrastructure as part of the Commonwealth Games.
“Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland all get permanent housing as a legacy, why doesn’t Ballarat?”
“This isn’t a legacy to be proud of, it’s just a missed opportunity for our local community,” Mr. McCracken said.
