More money required for much-needed Armstrong Creek stadium following $6m federal commitment

The future of an Armstrong Creek indoor sports stadium that was handed $6m in the federal budget remains uncertain because of the need for millions of dollars of additional funding.

Corangamite MP Libby Coker said she was pleased the federal budget reaffirmed her commitment to an Armstrong Creek sports stadium. Picture: Supplied.

The future of an Armstrong Creek indoor sports stadium that was handed $6m in the federal budget remains uncertain because of the need for millions of dollars of additional funding.

Corangamite MP Libby Coker made the funding commitment in the weeks leading up to the 2022 election and Tuesday’s budget allocated the entirety of the $6m for the 2024-25 financial year.

The cost of the project was estimated at $15m in 2022, a figure that has likely increased significantly.

In the absence of any funding from the state Labor government or the City of Greater Geelong, construction appears a long way off.

The “highball” stadium would ease demand on existing facilities in the region that are used for sports such as basketball, netball and volleyball.

Ms Coker said she was pleased the budget reaffirmed her commitment to the stadium.

“I look forward to working with state and local government to ensure this project is under way as soon as possible,” she said.

Corangamite MP Libby Coker talks with Treasurer Jim Chalmers at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

The state government’s budget, delivered by Treasurer Tim Pallas last week, contained no funding for the project, which was not surprising given its massive levels of debt.

Armstrong Creek falls within the South Barwon state electorate and with MP Darren Cheeseman’s axing from the party, Labor could make its own funding promise ahead of the 2026 election as part of an effort to win back the seat.

Senator Sarah Henderson said with only a $6m election commitment and no new funding from state or federal Labor, the project was “dead in the water”.

Sarah Henderson says federal Labor has short-changed the Geelong region. Picture: Mark Wilson.

“For the third Labor budget in a row, the Albanese government has betrayed our region with no new investment in any local project,” she said.

“This is in stark contrast to the major investments delivered by the Coalition including the Waurn Ponds rail upgrade, the Barwon Heads Rd duplication and Geelong City Deal.

“Richard Marles and Libby Coker have failed to stand up and fight for our region which reflects very poorly on their work as elected representatives.”

City Hall has strongly advocated for an indoor sports facility, but Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan said the proposed Armstrong Creek stadium that received funding was a “local venue”.

“It is not the regional indoor sports and events centre we have been advocating for as part of the state government’s Commonwealth Games legacy facilities,” he said.

Committee for Geelong chief executive Michael Johnston said his members were keenly awaiting further information of what the $6m commitment means.

“This won’t see an outcome delivered without any state or local council money attached and we implore all levels of government to work together on this proposal to deliver the right outcome for Geelong,” he said.

“Overall, the federal budget does not see any significant new investment into our city.

“There are some opportunities among the policy settings and we should be targeting these.”

Mr Marles, Corio MP since 2007, said Ms Henderson and Liberal leader Peter Dutton “want to take away tax cuts for people in Geelong and continue to stand in the way of energy bill relief”.

Earlier: $6m for indoor Geelong stadium

An Armstrong Creek sports stadium that will ease ever-growing pressure on existing facilities and hopefully draw high-level tournaments to the region has been given $6m of federal funding.

The election commitment had its funding confirmed in Tuesday’s budget that contained no new eye-catching announcements specific to the Greater Geelong region.

A treasury spokeswoman said while Victorian government funding was expected for the stadium project, the Commonwealth’s contribution was not contingent on that.

Corangamite MP Libby Coker had earlier spruiked the stadium, saying it would help address a lag in sporting and community infrastructure in the fast-growing suburbs south of Geelong.

She said the stadium would primarily host basketball, netball, badminton and volleyball competitions, and potentially attract state tournaments.

“This is a really exciting project and a milestone in the development of the township of Armstrong Creek,” Ms Coker said.

“It will make up part of the character of Armstrong Creek for years to come into the future.”

Geelong council chief executive Ali Wastie has strongly advocated for such a facility to cater for soaring demand, particularly in basketball and netball.’

Member for Corrangamite Libby Coker. Picture: Alison Wynd

Senator Sarah Henderson raised concerns in the lead-up to the budget that the stadium had been “shelved”.

She said the project had been removed from the Priority Community Infrastructure program, citing documents tabled at a Senate estimates hearing in February.

While funding announcements specific to the region were sparse, Regional Development Minister Catherine King said targeted investments would provide families and businesses outside Australia’s capital cities with immediate relief and opportunities.

“We continue to strengthen the industries and local economies that provide jobs and underpin prosperity in our regions,” she said.

The Geelong region’s many small business owners can apply for a $325 energy bill rebate from July 1, with around 1m businesses expected to benefit nationally.

This relief comes on top of all Australian households getting a $300 energy bill credit next financial year.

Small businesses with an annual turnover below $10m will continue to be able to deduct assets worth less than $20,000 after the government’s instant asset write-off was extended for 12 months.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King arrives at Parliament House on May 14, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images.

Ms King said manufacturers, including those in the Geelong region, would benefit from the government’s Future Made in Australia policy that, in part, seeks to make Australia a “renewable energy superpower”.

This includes $8bn over the next decade to expand the hydrogen industry, $836m to grow solar manufacturing, and $549m to develop battery making capabilities.

On the health front, a $227m investment will see a further 29 Medicare urgent care clinics delivered in regional and remote Australia, taking the total number of clinics to 87 since the Albanese government came to power.

However, it is unclear whether Victoria’s southwest will benefit as the locations were not revealed on Tuesday.

The government is expected to stagger announcements in the coming weeks.

“A boost in funding will allow for more patients to get urgent care from a doctor or nurse, and take pressure off busy hospital emergency departments,” Health Minister Mark Butler said.

Since commencing last year, existing clinics have provided almost 400,000 bulk billed visits.

Road safety boost for Geelong councils

Councils in and around the Greater Geelong area will be given more money to fix dangerous roads after the federal government announced plans to significantly increase funding for its Roads to Recovery program.

Local governments will be handed the additional Commonwealth cash to address problem areas on their roads in an effort to reduce accidents and casualties on ageing infrastructure.

National Roads to Recovery funding is set to increase from $617m this financial year to $1bn in 2027-28, with councils to be given greater autonomy over their own road construction and maintenance projects.

The Black Spot Program, which funds works in places where serious crashes have occurred or are likely to occur, has increased from $130m to $150m during the same period.

Following a horror 12 months for road safety across rural and regional Victoria, local leaders would likely welcome the government’s focus on road safety funding.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers (L) receives a pat on the back from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before Chalmers delivers his budget speech at Parliament House on May 14, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images.

However, funding for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure, which also hands money to local councils for priority projects, is winding down from $175.4m this financial year to $67.5m in the next period.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation’s freight line from Maroona to Portland will get a $150m upgrade, while the Bridgewater Rd and Portland Ring Rd intersection gets $12m for an upgrade.

There were no new road projects for Geelong, Surf Coast or Bellarine listed in the budget documents.

The government allocated $1.9bn for Western Sydney road and rail infrastructure.

The Commonwealth’s commitment to the Geelong City Deal will ramp up to $90.5m next financial year, well up on the $31.6m spent this period.

The government made further efforts to loosen the squeeze on housing, aiming to make housing outside of metropolitan areas more readily available and affordable for prospective home buyers.

The government highlighted its Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee, which is believed to have already helped more than 18,000 people buy a house.

Originally published as More money required for much-needed Armstrong Creek stadium following $6m federal commitment