Kardinia Park Stadium Trust and Geelong Football Club one of the few budget winners

The Cats have emerged as one of the few winners from Tuesday’s budget after the state government committed to funding a new scoreboard at GMHBA Stadium, fuelling calls for the facility to be renamed “Pork Barrel Park”.

GMHBA Stadium as viewed from the new Joel Selwood Stand. Picture: Mark

The Cats have emerged as one of the few winners from Tuesday’s budget after the state government committed to funding a new scoreboard at GMHBA Stadium, fuelling calls for the facility to be renamed “Pork Barrel Park”.

The Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, which manages the site on behalf of the government, was handed $4.1m – $3m for the replacement of the southern scoreboard and $1.1m for facility maintenance and flood-mitigation works.

The announcement came less than two months after Premier Jacinta Allan visited the stadium to mark the completion of the $142m stage five redevelopment that her government solely funded.

Those works focused on the northern end of the ground.

People took to social media following the latest funding promise to question the government’s priorities.

Journalist James Massola wrote on X: “$188bn of state debt forecast but of course Geelong – one of the richest clubs in the AFL – gets another hand out for Pork Barrel Park.”

The bleak budget also sparked a war of words between Geelong MP Christine Couzens and Mayor Trent Sullivan.

War of words: Christine Couzens and Trent Sullivan. Picture: Mark Wilson.

Mr Sullivan issued a statement late Tuesday that highlighted City Hall’s concerns over the lack of new investment in the region.

He said Geelong deserved more considering its rapid growth and increasingly important role in the state’s economy.

“For Geelong to retain its liveability in the future we need the state government to start delivering major infrastructure upgrades in the short term, particularly relating to transport,” Mr Sullivan said.

“We are keenly awaiting greater detail on the state’s plans for Commonwealth Games legacy infrastructure, which was missing from this budget.”

In response, Ms Couzens said the government’s commitment to Geelong had seen unprecedented state infrastructure projects funded in recent years.

“So I ask the mayor of the City of Greater Geelong, what have they contributed to the significant state government infrastructure projects in Geelong?” she said.

“I believe it is almost zero.”

Committee for Geelong chief executive Michael Johnston described the budget as “subdued” for the region.

“While not unexpected, it is disappointing to see such little new investment in our city and region,” he said.

“This is particularly the case in key transport infrastructure, which remains the biggest challenge to our city’s continued growth.”

Mr Johnston also called for more information on the Commonwealth Games legacy funding.

G21 boss Giulia Baggio said the region needed a bigger slice of the government’s $1bn social and affordable housing fund.

Geelong Chamber of Commerce’s Jeremy Crawford said local businesses would not see any significant benefits from the budget.

“Certainly nothing that shifts the dial,” he said.

Geelong-based Greens MLC Sarah Mansfield said regional Victoria had been ignored by Labor.

“One quarter of Victorians live outside of Melbourne, but the budget does not reflect our contribution and does not meet our basic needs,” she said.

“Labor has shown, again, that they either don’t know or don’t care about what happens in regional Victoria.”

Earlier: Torquay hospital in doubt as state govt looks for savings

The future of Torquay’s community hospital is uncertain after the state government revealed it is reviewing the long-awaited and much-needed facility’s offerings.

The project was promised by Labor six years ago as part of a $675m investment in 10 statewide health hubs that it said would reduce pressure on existing health infrastructure.

The government’s Victorian Health Building Authority website maintains that construction will be completed this year, but other than securing a parcel of land on South Beach Rd, the project has not progressed.

Treasurer Tim Pallas confirmed on Tuesday as part of his 10th state budget that the government was conducting “further service planning … to determine the optimal care models to best meet primary service needs in the community”.

Mr Pallas said the review would consider recent investments at other Barwon Health facilities, signalling a potential reduction in services provided in Torquay, if the hospital ever eventuates.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said in 2022 that the land acquisition “delivered on our election commitment to give the southern growth corridor of Geelong and the Surf Coast the everyday health services it needs”.

“This will free up people from spending precious time trying to find a car park in and around Geelong hospital,” he said at the time.

The state opposition has repeatedly called on the government to confirm its commitment to the Torquay hospital.

The government is also reviewing promised hospitals in Eltham and Emerald Hill.

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney at the site of a new school to be built in Charlemont. Picture: Alison Wynd

Premier Jacinta Allan said the fast-growing suburbs within South Barwon won’t be overlooked despite Mr Cheeseman’s recent dismissal from the government benches.

Speaking to the Addy ahead of Mr Pallas delivering his budget, Ms Allan said Labor would ensure it maintained a strong presence in the electorate ahead of the 2026 election.

Mr Cheeseman has gone to ground since he was sensationally sacked by Labor last week following multiple complaints of “persistent, inappropriate behaviour” towards female staff.

Upon his axing, the career politician said he would “continue to serve the people of South Barwon as their MP”, which would see him sit in parliament as an independent without the support of Labor’s party machine.

Ms Allan would not be drawn on how soon Labor would preselect a candidate, saying that was a matter for local party members.

“We have a great (parliamentary) team in Geelong,” she said.

Premier Jacinta Allan. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

In an expectedly subdued budget for the region, there were no new headline announcements.

An upgrade of the rail tunnel between Geelong and South Geelong will be undertaken thanks to $54m allocated next financial year for regional rail network enhancements across the state.

The cost of the Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital was revealed to be $514.1m following the appointment of construction partner Built in March.

This figure includes $50m of federal funding under the community health and hospitals program agreement.

The government maintains that Armstrong Creek’s ambulance station will be ready by late 2026.

Promised in 2022, just $2.4m of the project’s allocated $30.4m has been spent so far, as the government expects construction to ramp up over the next 18 months.

The Kardinia Park Stadium Trust gets $4.1m to ensure the venue remains “a great place to bring people and events to Geelong, including the replacement of the southern scoreboard”.

Geelong will also benefit from $1.5m funding to support food hubs across regional Victoria.

Gayle Tierney, the government’s regional development minister, held a press conference in Charlemont Tuesday morning to reaffirm Labor’s commitment to build two new schools in the region.

She said the Horseshoe Bend and Warralily primary schools would both open in 2026 and cater for 525 and 650 students respectively.

“New and modern school buildings contribute to school pride for students and their families, helping to build their engagement and experience with education,” Ms Tierney said.

Barwon Water has been allocated $34.6m for new projects in 2024-25.

The budget papers confirmed the government had formally abandoned its $2bn Geelong fast rail project.

“This cancellation has not been replaced with any meaningful commitment to other transport connections for our fast-growing communities,” G21 chief Giulia Baggio said.

“Enormous expenditure on metropolitan transport projects benefits no one in our region.”

Originally published as Kardinia Park Stadium Trust and Geelong Football Club one of the few budget winners