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Community ideas wanted on how to best showcase regional Victoria during 2026 Commonwealth Games

Deputy Premier and Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery Jacinta Allan visited Morwell today to call for community ideas about how to best showcase regional Victoria as part of 2026 Commonwealth Games.

By news@gippsland - 20th July 2022 - Back to News

The minister toured the Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park in Morwell, which is set to host Rugby Sevens, with Mayor Cr Kellie O'Callaghan, councillors and local sporting clubs. The deadline for the Call for Ideas process has been extended to 12 August, aiming to capture ideas from residents and businesses, Traditional Owner groups, creative and cultural organisations, and local councils - ensuring every part of Victoria can benefit from the Commonwealth Games.

Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan with Mayor of Latrobe City Cr Kellie O'Callaghan, Cr Graeme Middlemiss, Deputy Mayor Dan Clancey and Cr Tracie Lund joined by representatives from Gippsport and the Latrobe Youth Space at the Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park

Economic and social benefits

With four regional hubs including Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland officially confirmed for the games, there is now the opportunity for more regions to play a role in Victoria 2026. The games will deliver significant economic and social benefits to the Gippsland region, including housing and world-class sports facilities.

Gippsland is also expected to benefit greatly from the influx of visitors and sporting fans travelling to watch the games be played at the Gippsland Sports and Entertainment Park and other venues across the region.

Opportunity for Gippsland

Mayor of Latrobe City Cr Kellie O'Callaghan said the games would present a range of valuable opportunities for the Gippsland region and will provide a lasting legacy in Latrobe City beyond 2026.

>We appreciate the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Premier to learn more about how our community can get involved in the planning process. We are so excited for the possibilities that lay ahead, and we look forward to working with the Victorian Government to shape something special, said the Mayor.

For more information and to get involved, visit Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games website.

Pictures from Latrobe City Council website.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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• Join Omeo's visitor economy through tourism mapping and justice precinct masterplan vision sessions on 14 September 2025
  Omeo visitor economy's future will be shaped through community sessions presenting the Tourism Ecosystem Mapping Report and Draft Justice Precinct Masterplan, highlighting heritage, recreation, and opportunities to attract investment.
• Wellington Shire Council responds to AKD Yarram closure, pledges support for 73 affected workers and community
  Wellington Shire Council expressed heartbreak over AKD Yarram�s closure, impacting 73 employees, pledging support, advocating state assistance, and encouraging redeployment and economic opportunities to sustain the community.
• Wellington Shire Council elects Cr Cindy Madeley as Mayor and Cr Liz Foat as Deputy Mayor marking up historic female leadership
  Cr Cindy Madeley and Cr Liz Foat were elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Wellington Shire, marking historic female leadership and a focus on community, innovation, inclusion, and strategic development.
• Darren Chester and Martin Cameron launch petition urging action on long-delayed Traralgon Princes Highway bypass project
  Darren Chester and Martin Cameron have launched a community petition urging state and federal governments to prioritise funding and design work for the long-delayed Traralgon Princes Highway bypass to ease congestion.
• From Job expos to farms and sports awards connecting communities across East Gippsland through events and advocacy
  From jobs expos to farm visits, sports awards, and community projects, recent weeks highlighted East Gippsland's talent, resilience, and collaboration, advocacy, and opportunities that strengthen local communities.
• South Gippsland Eat, Drink Play Festival celebrates local food, drinks, live music, kids' activities, and outdoor fun and other updates
  Eat Drink Play Gippsland returns this spring at Leongatha Railway Precinct, showcasing regional food, drink, and live music. With daytime tastings, evening entertainment, and kids' activities, it's a family-friendly celebration of Gippsland.
• Melina Bath criticises Labor government, calling Myki's delayed tap-and-go rollout a "mythical unicorn," outdated and incompatible
  Victoria's long-promised tap-and-go public transport system has been delayed until 2028, leaving commuters, especially in regional areas, still reliant on outdated Myki cards and paper tickets
• Martin Cameron slams Energy Minister D'Ambrosio's false claims on power prices and jobs in Latrobe Valley
  Nationals MP Martin Cameron condemned Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio's claims of delivering for Latrobe Valley, citing soaring power prices, weak jobs growth, and neglect of residents during Victoria's energy transition.
• Have your say on the 2027 transition to Pre-Prep and help shape early learning in South Gippsland
  South Gippsland Shire Council is seeking feedback from parents and carers to help shape how the Victorian government's 2027 Pre-Prep program is delivered locally to meet community needs.
• Martin Cameron urges Energy Minister to lift outdated coal overlays blocking 2000 new homes in Traralgon
  Nationals MP Martin Cameron criticised Minister Lily D'Ambrosio for refusing to review outdated coal overlays blocking 2000 new homes in Traralgon, despite studies confirming land stability for development.
• Darren Chester welcomes Minister Catherine King�s confirmation that the Eastern Beach Road intersection remains a priority
  The federal government has increased funding to $6.6 million for the Lakes Entrance road safety upgrade, but Federal MP Darren Chester says state government delays continue to stall the vital project.
• Danny O'Brien says Gippsland roads among state's most dangerous after years of neglect under Allan Labor government
  Danny O'Brien says new AusRAP data shows many Gippsland roads are unsafe after years of Labor neglect, criticising the government for lowering speed limits instead of properly fixing deteriorating roads.
• Cr Nathan Hersey elected as Mayor and Cr Brad Snell as Deputy Mayor for South Gippsland and other council updates
  Councillor Nathan Hersey was elected Mayor and Councillor Brad Snell Deputy Mayor of South Gippsland Shire for 12 months, marking Hersey�s second and Snell�s first term in these roles.
• South Gippsland Seniors Festival offers free and low-cost events to connect, create, and celebrate together
  South Gippsland celebrates Victorian Seniors Festival this October with 60+ free and low-cost events across nine towns, inviting over-60s to connect, create, celebrate, and enjoy community through sport, arts, learning, and fun.
• Australia to celebrate inaugural Red and Yellow Day honouring volunteer lifesavers and supporting water safety initiatives
  Australia will celebrate its first Red & Yellow Day on March 4, 2026, honouring volunteer lifesavers and supporting lifesaving clubs through community participation and fundraising for vital water safety initiatives.
• Peri Urban Councils urge state government to invest in infrastructure and support housing growth across regions
  Peri Urban Councils Victoria is urging government investment in infrastructure after a new report recommended 40% of new homes be built in regional Australia, highlighting housing demand, high costs, and infrastructure pressures.
• West Gippsland CMA hosts free sustainable farming workshops with local landcare groups from September 2025 to March 2026
  West Gippsland CMA is hosting free farm field days September - March, showcasing sustainable agriculture, carbon farming, and local expertise. Workshops cover soil health, biodiversity, biofertilizers, and agribusiness opportunities.
• Danny O'Brien warns Bayside Health merger threatens Gippsland communities, confirming hidden health service consolidation
  Danny O'Brien criticises Labor's Bayside Health merger, warning it will reduce local hospital autonomy, limit community input, and risk services for Gippsland residents, prioritising bureaucratic cost-saving over patient care.