By Aaron Cordy
AFTER the shock over the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games settled, the silver lining for regional Victoria was a promised $2 billion package by the Andrews Government to ensure regional Victoria still receives all the benefits that would have been facilitated by the Games. Part of the package was meant to come to Shepparton to upgrade the BMX tracks, which could have potentially been parleyed into the much-needed upgrade to the basketball stadium.
The fallout from the Games cancellation continued when the state came to an agreement with the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Commonwealth Games Federation Partnerships (CGFP), and Commonwealth Games Australia (CGA) for a $380M cancellation payment. After the initial debacle over the cost of the cancelled games, it was unearthed in October the State Government spent nearly 20 times more in consulting fees than first believed.
Despite solid inroads, the State was already struggling to overcome the COVID debt. Add to that the Federal Government cut funding to over 50 infrastructure projects across the country, and there is a clear lack of money to go around.
The positive news for BMX fans is the Labor Government has freed up the funds which will allow the BMX upgrade to get underway. With new signage put up last December. The Victorian Budget 23/24 is providing more than $200M for local sporting clubs to improve their facilities and more than $11M for community sport and recreation programs.
“Through the Regional Community Sports Infrastructure Fund, we are making sure regional Victorians of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and genders can be part of the big local sporting events that bring communities together,” said a Victorian Government spokesperson. “This fund will ensure local sporting clubs have the best facilities and infrastructure to get everyone in their community involved.”
But what does this mean for a project like a basketball stadium upgrade that should have been done years ago, and is a far cry from happening?
That is not a call to scrap the stadium. It is required for a community that’s growing like Shepparton. To hold world-class events and attract bigger and better ones in the future, the Goulburn Valley needs facilities that can support and maintain events. They need it done correctly now, and not skimped on for a solution that will not meet the growing community’s needs.
While the promised $2B package from the Labor Government is now being distributed to regional Victoria, it is up to leaders and stakeholders in the community who have rallied for the upgrade to get broader in their thinking about how to bring this stadium from an architect’s plan to a solid structure you run layups on.
