Wednesday, 28 August 2024

 Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (18:25): (1097) My adjournment matter is for the Premier regarding the current situation with the promised Commonwealth Games legacy projects in the Premier’s own electorate of Bendigo East. To refresh the memory of the house, the Premier is also the former Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery. The Commonwealth Games were due to be delivered in 2026, highlighting Victoria’s regional cities. As members will recall, the much-hyped games were cancelled on 18 July 2023, well over 12 months ago. The government had allocated $2.6 billion to deliver the games. Nearly $600 million of taxpayer funds were wasted along with the irreparable damage to Victoria’s international reputation.

Regional communities, sporting groups, businesses, tourism groups and schools were left devastated at the loss of the games and the promised benefit to the local communities. Instead, they were promised a range of legacy projects focusing on sporting infrastructure and housing. Regional communities including Bendigo are still waiting to see any concrete outcomes from these promises. In Bendigo promised projects included an expansion of the Bendigo stadium, along with upgrades to the lighting of the outdoor netball courts, new solar panels, improvements to accessibility and the car park; four refurbished bowling greens and an upgrade to the clubhouse at the historic Bendigo Bowls Club; two refurbished croquet courts at the Bendigo Croquet Club; an upgrade of the Bendigo showgrounds, including a new pavilion, redevelopment of the arena and upgrades to fencing and entrances; and a major social housing project in Osborne Street in Flora Hill. I understand that some of the sporting groups are currently working with the City of Greater Bendigo in a bid to have these projects completed; however, some expect the construction will not start for about 12 months. This is despite the government’s own website assuring us that construction on these projects is set to begin in mid-2024.

Transparency is vitally important when it comes to government, because taxpayers deserve to see how their money is being spent. The action I seek is that the Premier provide a detailed overview of each of the Bendigo projects and their current status, along with details of the budget allocations to cover them, plans and timelines for completion. After all that has happened I ask the Premier to provide the community with some clear and concrete answers on this very important issue.