Please note: this is an archived news article release
This article was published on Wednesday, 16 February, 2022. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.
Posted on Wednesday 16th of February, 2022,
Greater Shepparton City Council is seeing the culmination of more than five years work come to fruition with the announcement from the Victorian State Government this morning that they will bid for a regional cities 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“Regional Victoria is ready to welcome the Commonwealth Games”, Regional Cities Victoria Chair and Mayor of Greater Shepparton, Cr Kim O’Keeffe, said. “I am absolutely thrilled for our region and for all of Victoria.”
“We have been involved in the development of a regional cities model for a number of years with a pre-feasibility study completed in early 2020. This was contributed to by the State Government and several regional councils including Shepparton, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo,” said Cr O’Keeffe. “We set up a Commonwealth Games Working Group, chaired by Adem Karafili, which has worked tirelessly on the bid for a regional games.”
“The Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006 was a great success. A Victorian Commonwealth Games in 2026, hosted across the state, will be an event to remember, and will show the world what Victoria has to offer.”
Mayor, Cr Kim O’Keeffe said the news was absolutely fantastic for Greater Shepparton. “This will be the economic boost that our region and many regional areas need after two years of pandemic impact.”
Regional cities are well placed to support such an event with the potential to create significant economic and social opportunities for local businesses and the community.
The regional model is a good one with great facilities and infrastructure already available. Shepparton has a proven track record of hosting successful large scale international events such as the 2020 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup. Shepparton’s Victoria Park Lake also hosted the 2017 and 2018 World Tour Beach Volleyball events along with several international standard Triathlons, with the ability to host bigger events in the future.
Greater Shepparton City Council CEO Peter Harriott said “while we are fortunate to have some world class infrastructure in our region, we also welcome investment towards new and updated facilities.”
“We understand that this is a big expenditure for the state and we look forward to working closely with the government to make this happen,” said Mr Harriott.
More News from Greater Shepparton
Tuesday 3rd of March,
Expressions of interest open for ‘Eat, Play, Stay & Shop’ guide supporting major SAM exhibition
Council, through its destination brand Shepparton & Goulburn Valley and in partnership with the Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), is inviting local businesses to take part in an exciting new visitor focused initiative ahead of SAM’s upcoming blockbuster… Read more
Tuesday 3rd of March,
Industry gathers for launch of Shepparton & Goulburn Valley’s key activations for 2026
Council’s Visitor Economy and Major Events team launched their key activations and events for the coming year to industry partners, local businesses and community members at the annual Visitor Economy Gathering on Monday 2 March 2026. Read more
Monday 2nd of March,
Renovating or changing your property? Council helps residents find the right permit for their project
Council is launching a new community awareness campaign to help residents understand the difference between planning and building permits before starting work on their property. Read more
Monday 2nd of March,
Submissions now open to young writers for the 2026 Furphy Literary Awards
Council, in partnership with the Furphy Foundation, La Trobe University and Goulburn Valley Libraries, invites young writers from across the Goulburn Valley to share their stories as part of the 2026 Furphy Junior & Youth Literary Awards. Read more
Monday 2nd of March,
Greater Shepparton calls for emerging leaders to apply for 2026 Community Leadership Program
Council is inviting community members to take part in the 2026 Community Leadership Program, a Council-funded initiative supporting the development of emerging grassroots leaders across the municipality. Read more
Thursday 26th of February,
Damage at Tatura Skate Park
Council is extremely disappointed by recent damage inflicted on key structures at the new Tatura Skate Park, with sections of the facility now closed as a result. Read more
See All News
Want to get the latest news and events in your Facebook feed?
Just go to our Facebook page and click the Like button.
More Events in Greater Shepparton
Saturday 7th of March,
Harley Show and Shine
Can you hear the thunder? Read more
Friday 6th of March,
Tatura Women's Breakfast
Celebrate International Women’s Day with an inspiring morning of connection, conversation, and community. Hear powerful stories from guest speakers while enjoying a welcoming breakfast event that honours… Read more
Wednesday 11th of March,
Puff Walk
Enjoy the beauty of our local parks on Puff Walk! Read more
Friday 13th of March, – to Sunday 15th of March,
The Northern Victorian Showjumping Club World Cup Festival 2026
The feature class is the CSI1*-W World Cup Qualifier on Saturday afternoon on the Main Grass Arena. With show jumps reaching 1.60m in height, you will see some of the best riders in the country trying… Read more
Friday 6th of March,
Bar SAM | March
Bar SAM, the rooftop bar on Shepparton Art Museum's Level 4, returns for a series of dates in 2026 to elevate your Friday nights. Enjoy refreshing drinks and bar snacks from the Elsewhere at SAM crew… Read more
Wednesday 4th of March,
Puff Walk
Fresh air, easy pace, good company – that’s what our Puff Walks are all about. Read more
See All Events