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Commonwealth Games

Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games Delivers Lasting Legacies

The XVIII Commonwealth Games were hosted in Victoria in March 2006.

The Commonwealth Games were declared the best ever, and an outstanding success for Victoria, delivering:

improved world class infrastructure;
lasting legacies; and
a positive economic impact.

The Department for Planning and Community Development (formerly the Department for Victorian Communities) played a major role in helping deliver these outcomes.

Improved world class infrastructure

Sport in Victoria is richer for hosting the Commonwealth Games thanks to a legacy of improved state-of-the-art infrastructure. New venues were built and a number of well-loved venues were upgraded. Highlights include:

Showpiece development of the internationally recognised Melbourne Cricket Ground. Half of the stadium was rebuilt at the MCG and 55,000 new seats added.
An outdoor, permanent-roofed competition pool was built at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.
A 6.4 kilometre bike course was built at the State Mountain Bike Course in Lysterfield Park.
New pitch surfaces and an environmentally sustainable watering system were installed at the State Netball Hockey Centre.
A new lawn bowls facility was built at the State Lawn Bowls Centre.
Improved shooting and basketball facilities in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

This is a lasting benefit that positions Victoria to take advantage of future major events. Most importantly these international standard venues are now being used by everyday Victorians.

Lasting Legacies

Much of the equipment used for the Commonwealth Games is now helping prepare the next generation of Australian Commonwealth Games representatives.
The Victorian Government has given over $1.7 million of ex-Games sporting equipment to over 260 Victorian clubs and associations.
Up and coming boxers in Whittlesea are now taking to the same Boxing Ring that gave rise to Commonwealth glory.
Equipment ranging from shuttle cocks, javelins, table tennis tables, to basketball rings and weightlifting equipment is now being used by up and coming sports stars across the State.
A further boost to grassroots sport was achieved courtesy of the Games being delivered under budget. Record ticket sales, record crowds, fantastic support from sponsors and the Victorian community and an event that was incident free helped to deliver Victoria’s biggest ever event $50 million under budget. Some $26 million of that savings is now being ploughed back in to Victorian sport.

The $26 million sporting bonanza has been committed across three program areas:

$13.25 million will help develop community facilities;
$5.85 million will support community programs; and
$6.8 million will be invested into sport development

On sporting fields, in schools, and in community facilities and sport clubs, Victorians will see the benefits of having hosted the Commonwealth Games for years to come.
The Commonwealth Games also set new benchmarks in the environmental planning and running of international major events. The Commonwealth Games achieved the objectives of being a low waste, carbon neutral and water wise event. Over one million trees were planted to offset carbon emissions associated with the event.
Some 14,000 people volunteered during the Games, donating 900,000 hours of their time to help deliver the event. Many people had their first experience of volunteering and in a major boost for the Victorian community more than 7000 volunteers indicated they want to keep volunteering.

Positive economic impact

The Commonwealth Games delivered a major boost to the Victorian economy.
An independent study in October 2006 showed that direct Games expenditure, tourism, construction and other commercial activity generated by the Games positively impacted on Gross State Product by $1.6 billion. This is higher than the pre-Games estimate of $1.5 billion.

The higher than expected economic return was largely due to the higher number of international tourists. More than 100,000 tourists visited Victoria for the Games.

The study also revealed that almost 13,600 full time equivalent jobs will be created from the Games. Some 264 apprentices were employed to help build Games venues.

Web Site Updates

DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities (DVC) as changes are being made.

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