Geelong Games projects bonanza
WAURN Ponds will be the home of the 2026 Commonwealth Games athletes’ village in Geelong, with a purposebuilt swimming complex in Armstrong Creek.
The state government will announce the long-rumoured locations of key infrastructure projects on Saturday, confirming an investment of nearly $300m in Commonwealth Games projects in Geelong.
Geelong will host nine sports – including swimming, gymnastics and hockey – as well as the closing ceremony at Kardinia Park.
The aquatics centre in Armstrong Creek will host swimmers, para swimmers and divers with a 50m outdoor swimming pool and an outdoor diving pool.
It will be the latest major pool project in the region after major upgrades to the LeisureLink Aquatic and Recreation Centre in Waurn Ponds, the $61.6m Northern Aquatic and Community Hub being built in Norlane and major projects in Drysdale and Torquay resulting from election promises.
A new artistic gymnastics and weightlifting venue will also be built in Waurn Ponds.
It will become seven multisport courts, a dance studio, and a regional-level gymnastics centre after the event.
The athletes’ village, which will host about 2500 athletes and officials, will be built at the Waurn Ponds station precinct, in consultation with the community and traditional owners.
Community advocates, including the Community Housing Industry Association, have called for the village to be converted to affordable housing after the event. It is not known if this will occur.
Two Commonwealth Games-first sports will also be hosted in the region – golf will tee off on the Bellarine Peninsula and coastal rowing will make its debut in Torquay.
Commonwealth Games Delivery Minister Jacinta Allan said the final for the T20 Cricket would also be held at Kardinia Park.