The council was in discussion with the Welsh and Scottish teams about using the Silverwater Resort as a pre-Games athletes' village. Photo: Silverwater Resort A SECRET plan by Bass Coast Shire Council to host an athletes’ village at the Silverwater Resort was scuppered when the State Government cancelled the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games yesterday.
The council revealed today it was poised to announce the plan, hatched in partnership with Casey City Council.
Planning was well advanced to set up a hub for more than 400 athletes and support team members at Silverwater Resort in San Remo. It would have been fully funded by the visiting team, set to inject up to $3 million into the local economy and create hundreds of jobs for several weeks before the Games were due to start in March 2026.
The council revealed today it was poised to announce the plan, hatched in partnership with Casey City Council.
Planning was well advanced to set up a hub for more than 400 athletes and support team members at Silverwater Resort in San Remo. It would have been fully funded by the visiting team, set to inject up to $3 million into the local economy and create hundreds of jobs for several weeks before the Games were due to start in March 2026.
Bass Coast Mayor Michael Whelan said the two councils had been working together since the start of the year, after the State Government decided not to host Commonwealth Games events in the Bass Coast region.
Athletes and officials would have been bussed daily to the City of Casey’s extensive sporting facilities just 30-70 minutes from the accommodation.
“We had been in deep discussions with several countries, which had progressed significantly with Scotland and Wales throughout the last week,” Cr Whelan said. “In fact, we were talking with them just the night before the State Government made their decision.
“We are incredibly disappointed that all the hard work on this entrepreneurial partnership model won’t be able to be put into action.”
He said the plan would have injected millions of dollars into the local economy and helped promote Bass Coast on the world-stage as a globally attractive tourism destination
Cr Whelan said despite the disappointment, the work had not been completely wasted.
“Major events are an important part of the Bass Coast community and culture, so Council would continue to chase similar tourism-driving events.
“We look forward to securing our share of the $150 million dollar funding now set aside for tourism-related infrastructure, after the decision to cancel the Games, to deliver the world-class Bass Coast Dinosaur Trail. This project is ready to go - all it needs is a commitment.’’
Athletes and officials would have been bussed daily to the City of Casey’s extensive sporting facilities just 30-70 minutes from the accommodation.
“We had been in deep discussions with several countries, which had progressed significantly with Scotland and Wales throughout the last week,” Cr Whelan said. “In fact, we were talking with them just the night before the State Government made their decision.
“We are incredibly disappointed that all the hard work on this entrepreneurial partnership model won’t be able to be put into action.”
He said the plan would have injected millions of dollars into the local economy and helped promote Bass Coast on the world-stage as a globally attractive tourism destination
Cr Whelan said despite the disappointment, the work had not been completely wasted.
“Major events are an important part of the Bass Coast community and culture, so Council would continue to chase similar tourism-driving events.
“We look forward to securing our share of the $150 million dollar funding now set aside for tourism-related infrastructure, after the decision to cancel the Games, to deliver the world-class Bass Coast Dinosaur Trail. This project is ready to go - all it needs is a commitment.’’