‘Kick in guts’: Geelong hockey’s massive Commonwealth Games bill revealed

Geelong’s hockey association has been left in a $750,000 limbo after the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The Geelong Hockey Club's Alan Climpson with plans for the facilities that were expected to be built for the Commonwealth Games. Picture: Alison Wynd

Geelong’s hockey association has been left in a $750,000 limbo after the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, an inquiry has heard.

President Alan Climpson told a federal senate inquiry the sudden decision to shelve the Games – due to be held in regional Victoria – was a “kick in the guts”.

While Premier Daniel Andrews promised Corio’s Stead Park would still receive its planned upgrade of two new synthetic pitches, Mr Climpson said uncertainty over the timeline meant the club could still be required to carry out the upgrades themselves.

“With the uncertainty of what’s going to be delivered, we’re in a position where the pitch is becoming unplayable,” he said.

“We’ve got a very short time frame to ensure the field remains safe for everyone to use.”

Mr Climpson said pitch one, the association’s most-used site, would cost about $750,000 to properly replace.

“We had a growing expectation there was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to get out there and do our thing,” he said.

“(The cancellation) was a missed opportunity and it was hard to take.”

Bendigo and District Table Tennis Association President Gary Warnest told the committee the decision to move table tennis from Geelong to Bendigo had come as a “surprise”.

He said despite his inquiries “nobody had any answers” about why the sport had been moved.

It comes after Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan told the inquiry he’d been worried local councils would’ve been asked to fork out more money to help fund the games.

“I must be very clear, there was never a direct ask to the City of Greater Geelong, these were conversations, numbers we might be asked,” he said.

“I heard they could be as high as $50 million.”

Senator Sarah Henderson told the Geelong Advertiser a number of local sporting clubs had been left “high and dry” by the cancellation.

“As Mr Climpson told the Senate inquiry in Bendigo today, the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games is a real ‘kick in the guts’ for the Geelong hockey community,” she said.

“The Geelong Hockey Association has been left with a $750,000 bill for urgent works that are now required to upgrade its premiere pitch at Stead Park in Corio.”

The Senate inquiry will hear from a range of local businesses, sporting clubs and council areas as it investigates Australia’s ability to host major events like the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games.

Hearings will continue.

Originally published as ‘Kick in guts’: Geelong hockey’s massive Commonwealth Games bill revealed