Eureka Stadium (Mars Stadium)

[kalex6251]

you well know jacinta allen is from bendigo

 

[Kwality]

Thanks for that. The Ballarat expenditure won't happen.

 

[Chicken Parma]

Is it in the Premiers electorate ?

Bendigo East is the Premier's electorate.

 

[Roogal]

Is it in the Premiers electorate ?

No. Ms Allen represents Bendigo East. Eureka Stadium is in the state electorate of Wendouree represented by Julianna Addison.

 

[Kwality]

No. Ms Allen represents Bendigo East. Eureka Stadium is in the state electorate of Wendouree represented by Julianna Addison.

Thanks for that. The Ballarat expenditure won't happen.

 

[Roogal]

Thanks for that. The Ballarat expenditure won't happen.

I still believe that the regional stadiums will be developed at Waurn Ponds, the Latrobe Valley, Bendigo and Ballarat. The Games were cancelled because of the blowout in the costs of the villages and for what it would have cost to partially demolish many existing venues, re-configure them for the Comm Games and then demolish or remove the temporary components and rebuild those venues in legacy mode.

For Eureka Stadium they were going to spend considerably upwards of the original budget of $150 million to demolish brand new toilets and gates, rip up the oval, build an athletics track on it, build 5000 permanent new seats and install 18,000 temporary seats, upgrade the lighting, install temporary food pavilions and amenities and also build a brand new athletics track next door at the old showgrounds. Then ... after the games ... the temporary stands had to be removed, the athletics track in Mars Stadium ripped up and the oval completely rebuilt, toilets and entrances dismantled before the Games had to be rebuilt, and two new roofs built over the 5000 new seats.

Instead, now they will simply build the stadium in what was planned to be it's post Comm Games legacy mode with 5000 new covered seats, a new standing terrace to the South and possibly upgrade the lighting. Projected to cost somewhere between $55-65 million. A huge difference. In addition Ballarat has been promised that it will still get a new athletics centre on the site of its very antiquated Showgrounds that are closing later this month. A long overdue community sports oval and clubrooms will be built in the township of Miners Rest and there will be significant upgrades at Sports and Events Centre's main show court arena.

As Councillor Eddy said last week, the State Government will be keen to get the promised legacy developments completed by 2026 as there is a State election in November that year and the State Government wanting to be seen to have implemented a reconciliatory program to the impacted regional Victorian communities (Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, the Latrobe Valley and Shepparton) for having cancelled the Games. Premier Allan also has a lot of personal credibility riding on the delivery of these promises as she was the former Games Minister and in particular her own hometown in Bendigo also has venues that will benefit from the promised legacy construction/upgrade program. For Bendigo its legacy works include upgrades to the city's main lawn bowls club, expansion of the Bendigo Basketball centre and construction of a new 3000 sqm exhibition centre at the showgrounds.

If Cr Eddy is going public with this information then one might consider him as a good authoritative source. He's highly respected in Ballarat having headed the Ballarat Basketball Association for many years, he's not given to overstatements, and he was instrumental in securing $31.5 million in funding from the Council, State and Federal governments to get the Ballarat Sports Events Centre (Selkirk Stadium) built in 2019.

antiqu

 

[fumbler]

I still believe that the regional stadiums will be developed at Waurn Ponds, the Latrobe Valley, Bendigo and Ballarat. The Games were cancelled because of the blowout in the costs of the villages and for what it would have cost to partially demolish many existing venues, re-configure them for the Comm Games and then demolish or remove the temporary components and rebuild those venues in legacy mode.

For Eureka Stadium they were going to spend considerably upwards of the original budget of $150 million to demolish brand new toilets and gates, rip up the oval, build an athletics track on it, build 5000 permanent new seats and install 18,000 temporary seats, upgrade the lighting, install temporary food pavilions and amenities and also build a brand new athletics track next door at the old showgrounds. Then ... after the games ... the temporary stands had to be removed, the athletics track in Mars Stadium ripped up and the oval completely rebuilt, toilets and entrances dismantled before the Games had to be rebuilt, and two new roofs built over the 5000 new seats.

Instead, now they will simply build the stadium in what was planned to be it's post Comm Games legacy mode with 5000 new covered seats, a new standing terrace to the South and possibly upgrade the lighting. Projected to cost somewhere between $55-65 million. A huge difference. In addition Ballarat has been promised that it will still get a new athletics centre on the site of its very antiquated Showgrounds that are closing later this month. A long overdue community sports oval and clubrooms will be built in the township of Miners Rest and there will be significant upgrades at Sports and Events Centre's main show court arena.

As Councillor Eddy said last week, the State Government will be keen to get the promised legacy developments completed by 2026 as there is a State election in November that year and the State Government wanting to be seen to have implemented a reconciliatory program to the impacted regional Victorian communities (Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, the Latrobe Valley and Shepparton) for having cancelled the Games. Premier Allan also has a lot of personal credibility riding on the delivery of these promises as she was the former Games Minister and in particular her own hometown in Bendigo also has venues that will benefit from the promised legacy construction/upgrade program. For Bendigo its legacy works include upgrades to the city's main lawn bowls club, expansion of the Bendigo Basketball centre and construction of a new 3000 sqm exhibition centre at the showgrounds.

If Cr Eddy is going public with this information then one might consider him as a good authoritative source. He's highly respected in Ballarat having headed the Ballarat Basketball Association for many years, he's not given to overstatements, and he was instrumental in securing $31.5 million in funding from the Council, State and Federal governments to get the Ballarat Sports Events Centre (Selkirk Stadium) built in 2019.

antiqu

Does North still play on the main ground?
Is the oval next to the Arena Lake Wendouree's?

 

[Roogal]

Does North still play on the main ground?
Is the oval next to the Arena Lake Wendouree's?

"North Ballarat City" football teams and the "GWV Rebels" play home games on Mars Stadium. North Melbourne haven't played at Ballarat since 2015 after the Andrews Government made a deal with the Western Bulldogs to give them exclusive access to Ballarat.

The entrance to the North Ballarat Sports Club is approximately 600m from the entrance to the Sports Events Centre. Separating the two are three Aussie Rules/Cricket ovals (North Ballarat No 2, Lake Wendouree Number 2 and the C. E. Brown Oval (AKA Lake Wendouree No 1)).

 

[Roogal]

From the Ballarat Courier two days ago:

Upgrades to Ballarat's Mars Stadium a government commitment​

Premier Jacinta Allan has reaffirmed the government's commitment to delivering promised upgrades to Eureka Stadium. Visiting Delacombe on Friday, October 20, Ms Allan said they wanted to increase the capacity of Eureka Stadium. "We can absolutely go straight to delivering that outcome as a result of the $2 billion regional package," she said.

After the sudden axing plans of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in July, the government committed to delivering sports infrastructure to Ballarat. This included a new athletics track, stadium expansion by 5000 permanent seats, with improved accessibility access at Eureka Stadium and a sports facility at Miners Rest.

Ms Allan said the post-games $2 billion fund would go into communities. "We are working through how those facilities can go straight to the legacy outcome, in terms of delivering the long term community sporting facilities for communities like Miners Rest," she said.
"We remain committed to those community sporting facilities in Miners Rest."

Ms Allan said the government "will proceed" with the improvements at Eureka Stadium, more commonly known as Mars Stadium. "Improvements around Eureka Stadium...they're needed," she said. "Eureka Stadium is a great venue, it already hosts a whole bunch of activities, including two Western Bulldogs games every season."

The 2026 Commonwealth Games were due to be held across regional Victoria including Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland. Then-premier Daniel Andrews pulled the plug on the games when expected costs to host the games were projected to have blown out to $7 billion. Of course we'll leave the last word on that one to Mark Knight from the Herald Sun:

 

[Tandy]

From the Ballarat Courier two days ago:

Upgrades to Ballarat's Mars Stadium a government commitment​

Premier Jacinta Allan has reaffirmed the government's commitment to delivering promised upgrades to Eureka Stadium. Visiting Delacombe on Friday, October 20, Ms Allan said they wanted to increase the capacity of Eureka Stadium. "We can absolutely go straight to delivering that outcome as a result of the $2 billion regional package," she said.

After the sudden axing plans of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in July, the government committed to delivering sports infrastructure to Ballarat. This included a new athletics track, stadium expansion by 5000 permanent seats, with improved accessibility access at Eureka Stadium and a sports facility at Miners Rest.

Ms Allan said the post-games $2 billion fund would go into communities. "We are working through how those facilities can go straight to the legacy outcome, in terms of delivering the long term community sporting facilities for communities like Miners Rest," she said.
"We remain committed to those community sporting facilities in Miners Rest."

Ms Allan said the government "will proceed" with the improvements at Eureka Stadium, more commonly known as Mars Stadium. "Improvements around Eureka Stadium...they're needed," she said. "Eureka Stadium is a great venue, it already hosts a whole bunch of activities, including two Western Bulldogs games every season."

The 2026 Commonwealth Games were due to be held across regional Victoria including Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland. Then-premier Daniel Andrews pulled the plug on the games when expected costs to host the games were projected to have blown out to $7 billion. Of course we'll leave the last word on that one to Mark Knight from the Herald Sun:

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View attachment 1839458

Any news on the timeframe for the improvements/additional seating to the stadium? Feel like they should have just increased capacity right off the bat. The stadium shouldn't need touching by now. Perhaps it's been more of a success and money spinner than they thought?
Could see in 20 yrs WB playing 4 home games in Ballarat. The name is a good representation of that whole west Vic toward Ballarat area without upsetting western suburbs too much. Plus if they've increased their supporter base in Ballarat and surrounds in the last 10, the next generation of supporters will start to come through

 

[Roogal]

Any news on the timeframe for the improvements/additional seating to the stadium? Feel like they should have just increased capacity right off the bat. The stadium shouldn't need touching by now. Perhaps it's been more of a success and money spinner than they thought?
Could see in 20 yrs WB playing 4 home games in Ballarat. The name is a good representation of that whole west Vic toward Ballarat area without upsetting western suburbs too much. Plus if they've increased their supporter base in Ballarat and surrounds in the last 10, the next generation of supporters will start to come through

It would be most likely that nothing will immediately happen or be announced until at least May next year for the State Budget, because keep in mind that all of these promised "Legacy" build projects are yet to be officially funded and nothing can happen until that has occurred. As a side note, keep in mind that there were no actual funding commitments for the Commonwealth Games in this year's State Budget. I dare say that there are people working on the costings for the "Legacy" infrastructure projects that were to be developed for the Games in the five regional cities. As Premier Allan had said in October, "We are working through how those facilities can go straight to the legacy outcome". I interpret this to mean that the announcements will likely occur after next years budget and funding to flow throughout the second half of 2024 and into 2026. Expect to see soil getting turned on these projects around mid-2025 as the government will be keen to see these projects come into fruition by November 2026 in time for the State election and the political photo opportunities for the Premier to be seen cutting ribbons all over the place in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Shepparton and Traralgon.

The Ballarat project will be quite substantial as it involves completely demolishing the old Showgrounds and building a brand new athletics complex on that site in addition to the modifications that will occur at Eureka Stadium. Aside from the addition of 5000 permanent seats, the rest of what will be done to Eureka Stadium as part of its next staged upgrade is still quite vague. The stadium badly needs better lighting and the issue of building an events train platform adjacent to the stadium is high on the Ballarat Council and business community's list of priorities.

In politics everything is all about the timing. The pollies don't like to announce things until it suits their political capital or agenda. Often they will hold back on announcements for months until it suits them. So expect things to get rolling after May/June next year. That's my best guess.

 

[Roogal]

EoI called for, for Works Contractor(s) with works proposed to commence from Q4 2024:

Development Victoria (DV) is intending to seek responses to an Expression of Interest (EoI) to engage a Contractor for works within the Eureka Stadium Precinct in Ballarat.

The scope of works will include:

• Stadium expansion by 5,000 permanent seats
• Accessibility improvements to newly developed areas; and
• New athletics track and associated club house.

The contractor will be selected via a two-phase procurement process with an open EoI followed by a detailed Request for Tender process for invited shortlisted bidders.

Bidders will be required to demonstrate capability in managing projects in excess of $50 million.

This procurement will be subject to Ministerial Directions for Public Construction in Victoria, the Local Jobs First policy as a Strategic project, the Social Procurement Framework, Fair Jobs Code and the Building Equality Policy

The successful respondent will be engaged under a Victorian Public Construction Contract, approved for use by Development Victoria.

The expected release of the EoI is late March / early April 2024 with appointment of the successful respondent in Quarter 4 2024.

 

[Roogal]

From today's Ballarat Courier:

Coming soon: new details for stadium upgrades to land on Mars​

By Melanie Whelan
March 1 2024 - 5:00am

Details for a revamped Eureka Stadium are coming by Easter. Picture by Adam Trafford
DETAILS for upgrades to the city's biggest outdoor stadium are set to emerge by Easter in a pivot from a cancelled Commonwealth Games fall-out.
The Victorian Government has put out an advanced tender notice seeking expressions of interest from contractors keen to work in the Eureka Stadium precinct.
This includes a promised extra 5000 permanent seats to the stadium, commonly known as Mars Stadium, bringing seated capacity to 10,000 fans.
The stadium had been set to play a key role in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria, housing the athletics program, with boxing likely to be nearby in the city's top indoor arena Ballarat Sports and Events Centre, better known as Selkirk Stadium.
Architects from Cox Architecture, which has bases in major Australian cities, had been appointed in March 2023 to partner with Ballarat firm Morton and Co on the project.
Victoria's then-premier Daniel Andrews axed hosting rights on July 18, 2023, citing a projected budget blow-out between $6 billion and $7 billion.
But key legacy projects were still to forge on.

Signs indicating "upgrading Eureka Stadium with more seats and better accessibility" have been hung on gates for months. The state government's advance tender for a main works contractor features a "scope or works" to also include accessibility improvements and a highly-anticipated new athletics track and club house.

Under the Games' plans, the athletics track, on the Ballarat Showgrounds site, was to be an international standard warm-up track for athletes before becoming the new athletics hub for community sport. Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre chairmanager Matt Jenkins told a state government enquiry in February 2024 the associated hoped to be based in this new facility by the 2026/27 athletics track and field season.

While the precinct funding has been touted at $150 million, Mr Jenkins said budget breakdowns for each component were unknown - this meant the athletics community had been left in a "wait and see" scenario. Mr Jenkins said BRAC had been pushing for facilities to be world-class and better than Llanberris Reserve. Contractors for the Eureka Stadium precinct upgrades will be selected via a two-phase process, the advanced tender notice shows, and must demonstrate capability to manage projects larger than $50 million.

A redeveloped Eureka Stadium, branded Mars, opened in mid-2017 after a $22 million upgrade to transform it into a facility capable of hosting AFL in-season matches. The state government pledged a further $6.6 miilion to improve amenities, such as the ticket gate and toilets, in the 2018 election.

City of Ballarat continues to host at least two AFL premiership season matches each year - the first of this year to be on March 24.
Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains last week made clear his club's intentions to play on beyond their existing tenancy agreement ending in late 2024. Mr Bains told The Courier new partnership talks were set to step up.

Mars Stadium has also played host to Super Rugby and A-League matches. A Western United A-League clash on March 2 could be its last in Ballarat, as flagged by the club, with its new purpose-built stadium at Tarneit set to be open for use from next season.

 

[Tandy]

First time going to mars stadium. Have to say what a great experience. Was packed out and definitely needs more another stand. I'd like them to keep the hill though and wrap the stand around the other side past the scoreboard. Plenty of pop up bars and toilets wherever you are. Had a look at the roosters little change rooms on the oval next to the stadium and they are crap. That needs a new facility and could be utilised for AFL game day as well for functions. Also there's an open paddock that was closed off for parking but that should be a car park

 

[The Victorian]

First time going to mars stadium. Have to say what a great experience. Was packed out and definitely needs more another stand. I'd like them to keep the hill though and wrap the stand around the other side past the scoreboard. Plenty of pop up bars and toilets wherever you are. Had a look at the roosters little change rooms on the oval next to the stadium and they are crap. That needs a new facility and could be utilised for AFL game day as well for functions. Also there's an open paddock that was closed off for parking but that should be a car park

I disagree. The stand should be brought around to behind the goals. The away cheer squad get crammed into one row of seating with a no standing area right behind them and don’t have a polices dedicated area for their cheer squad

 

[Roogal]

First time going to mars stadium. Have to say what a great experience. Was packed out and definitely needs more another stand. I'd like them to keep the hill though and wrap the stand around the other side past the scoreboard. Plenty of pop up bars and toilets wherever you are. Had a look at the roosters little change rooms on the oval next to the stadium and they are crap. That needs a new facility and could be utilised for AFL game day as well for functions. Also there's an open paddock that was closed off for parking but that should be a car park

Are you sure that you aren't talking about the North Ballarat Cricket Club pavilion on the West side of the Number 2 Oval? The North Ballarat Seniors, Visitors and Umpires change rooms (under the main social club) are as good as you'll get anywhere following their recent $600,000 refurbishment.

 

[Tandy]

Are you sure that you aren't talking about the North Ballarat Cricket Club pavilion on the West side of the Number 2 Oval? The North Ballarat Seniors, Visitors and Umpires change rooms (under the main social club) are as good as you'll get anywhere following their recent $600,000 refurbishment.

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Apologies yes thee cricket club. The sign on thee cricket pavilion says north Ballarat roosters so I just assumed. Perfect placement for new stand. I don't remember the ground orientation being like that. The goals were behind the scoreboard not kicking to the hill. Am I right or did I have too many beers

 

[Roogal]

Apologies yes thee cricket club. The sign on thee cricket pavilion says north Ballarat roosters so I just assumed. Perfect placement for new stand. I don't remember the ground orientation being like that. The goals were behind the scoreboard not kicking to the hill. Am I right or did I have too many beers

Goals are about 30-40 metres to the right of the main scoreboard as you look toward the scoreboard. My guess is that they will either build the scoreboard into the new stand or might even shift it up on top of the main hill.

 

[aCunningPlan]

Apologies yes thee cricket club. The sign on thee cricket pavilion says north Ballarat roosters so I just assumed. Perfect placement for new stand. I don't remember the ground orientation being like that. The goals were behind the scoreboard not kicking to the hill. Am I right or did I have too many beers

Was wondering what you were meaning. The number two oval rooms are tiny, but that's for the juniors. The proper rooms at Mars are AFL standard. Love umpiring at Mars, their umpire rooms are bigger than most players rooms in the league!

 

[Roogal]

Showgrounds demolition to begin within months​

Above: Inside the entrance of Ballarat's decrepit 90 year-old showgrounds​

The state government has put out the call for demolition works on the Ballarat Showgrounds site on Creswick Road. Demolition works to make way for Eureka Stadium upgrades, as part of the Commonwealth Games fall-out, have been penciled in to begin from mid-2024.

A Victorian government spokesperson has confirmed an advanced tender notice for a demolition contractor is for works on the Ballarat Showgrounds site. These works are part of the major Eureka Sports Precinct's next stage of development. The precinct houses Eureka Stadium (commercially known as Mars Stadium); which has been promised significant upgrades - most notably with 5000 extra permanent seats.

State government infrastructure body Development Victoria this week issued an advanced tender notice specifically "to engage a demolition contractor for removal of buildings, fencing, road and pathways associated with future development within the Eureka Sports Precinct in Ballarat".

Above: The remaining showgrounds site where demolition works will commence later this year in preparation for construction works on the new athletics centre and Mars Stadium expansion which are likely to occur from early 2025.​

This is separate to the state government's early call out in late February seeking a main works contractor to carry out a "scope of works" in the sports precinct, including accessibility improvements and a highly-anticipated new athletics track and club house. Expressions of interest for the main works contractor close on April 10, 2024. The showgrounds site, adjoining the stadium, has been pegged for the city's new athletics hub.

Under the state government's abandoned 2026 Regional Victoria Commonwealth Games plans, Ballarat's Eureka Sports Precinct was to house the athletics' track and field program and marathon at Eureka Stadium. This also demanded an international standard warm-up track for athletes that would have become the city's new athletics centre to be sited on the existing showgrounds site.

Showgrounds tenants Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society will host its final event, the Victorian Sheep Show, at the Creswick Road site on June 23. BAPS will be officially moved out by June 30 to its new home at Mount Rowan. The single-phase demolition tender will open in early May 2024 with works to start within the third quarter, July to September, 2024. The state government has flagged a preference for applicants to "have an appreciation for engaging with regional Victorian trades and suppliers".

Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre chairmanager Matt Jenkins told a state government inquiry in February 2024 the association, which is presently based at Llanberris Reserve in Golden Point, that Ballarat Athletics hoped to be in the new athletics centre by the 2026/27 athletics track and field season. While the precinct funding for the Comm Games had been touted at $150 million, Mr Jenkins said updated budget breakdowns for each component following cancellation of the Gomm Games were unknown - this meant the athletics community had been left in a "wait and see" scenario.

A Victorian government spokesperson said the government had been working to deliver new and upgraded sporting venues in regional Victoria for people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and genders. "We've been working closely with local community stakeholders to plan out the next steps for this exciting upgrade and will have more to announce in the coming weeks," the spokesperson said.

There is still no confirmation on development for other touted Commonwealth Games legacy sites, including a new Miners Rest sporting precinct.

 

[Roogal]

New look at the Ballarat sports and events precinct​

By Nieve Walton
Updated April 11 2024 - 5:46pm, first published Ballarat Courier at 2:38pm


Above: Artist impression of the new athletics track next to Eureka Stadium.

New designs for the upgraded Eureka Stadium and athletics track on Creswick Road have been revealed, but questions about money still remain.The state government unveiled new renders for the sporting precinct on Thursday, April 11 - projects which were promised to the city despite the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games. An additional 5,000 permanent seats at Eureka and an athletic track and clubrooms to replace the Llanberris Athletics Reserve facilities are part of the rebranded "Ballarat Sports Package". Miners Rest will also be getting a "competition-grade oval, sports pavilion, car parking, amenities and change rooms".

Tourism minister Steve Dimopoulos was not able to confirm how much money would be spent on the Ballarat Projects, instead pointing to the $2 billion to be spent across the state. When the projects were first announced in 2022, $150 million was set aside for Ballarat and there has been no update or budget breakdown since. Mr Dimopoulos said the next two big milestones for the community are the appointment of a head contractor, which is going out to tender on April 11, and then commencement of work at the site.


Above: Artist impression of the new stadium seating on the Eastern flank of the oval.

The Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society will need to vacate the site by the end of June after the Victorian Sheep Show. The state government is expected to start demolition works straight away, which is why the Ballarat Show is cancelled for 2024, ahead of its move to a new site in Mount Rowan. Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre chair Matt Jenkins flagged in February they were concerned their facilities would be left behind without a clear plan to what would be included on the project.


Above: Artists impression behind the new seating near Gate 2 looking from Creswick Road to be build at Eureka Stadium.

New oval in Miners Rest​

Ripon MP Martha Haylett told the media this announcement was the first step for the much needed facility. She said there would "absolutely" be room to grow and would be working with the council and government departments to see what that would look like in the future. "It is very rare that you have this investment in a short space of time," into sporting infrastructure, Mr Dimopoulos said.

 

[Roogal]

Late 2026: Touted timeframe for Mars Stadium overhaul confirmed​

By Melanie Whelan (Ballarat Courier)
April 17 2024 - 5:00am

A DEADLINE for Mars Stadium's next overhaul has been penciled in for completion by late 2026. The latest updates from Development Victoria outline the head contractor for the project should be approved by October 2024 - with all dates subject to potential changes.

The first of a two-phase tender process for the contractor is underway with documents re-confirming what had been made clear in the advanced notice: 5000 permanent seats will be added in grandstands and the construction of a new athletics track and club house on the existing Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society site.

This comes a fortnight after an advanced tender notice was released for demolition of the stadium's adjoining showgrounds facilities.
Eureka Sporting Precinct, including the stadium, had been pegged to host athletics' track and field program for the now-defunct 2026 Commonwealth Games across regional Victoria.

Victorian Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos last week confirmed the Mars Stadium project and development for a Miners Rest community sporting oval would forge ahead from a $2 billion Games legacy purse across the state. The government has yet to make clear a ballpark figure for how much has been budgeted for Ballarat.

The redevelopment will boost Mars Stadium to 10,000 permanent seats, adding to the ground's modern reconstruction that was completed to host the city's first AFL game for premiership points on August 18, 2017.

Architects from Cox Architecture, which has bases in major Australian cities, was appointed in March 2023 to partner with Ballarat firm Morton and Co on the project and the latest Development Victoria update shows this is still the case. A new athletics track was initially touted to be an international standard warm-up track for the Commonwealth Games. Construction plans feature a new athletics club house, set to become home to Ballarat Regional Athletics Centre, and an athletics track with 10-lane straights and nine continuous lanes.

General site upgrades are to also improve accessibility and landscaping to connect Mars Stadium with the new athletics facility.
Demolition works at the showgrounds are scheduled to take place between July and November. Showgrounds tenants BAPS will host its final event, the Victorian Sheep Show, at the Creswick Road site on June 23. BAPS will be officially moved out by June 30 to its new home at Mount Rowan.

The Ballarat Show organisers this month announced they had been forced to cancel the 2024 show after being unable to find a suitable venue. Works at the new showgrounds site will not be ready in time for the popular November fixture. BAPS had considered keeping the large equestrian centre at Mount Rowan operating during works on the new showgrounds but last month made the decision to close it to private and casual users until October.

 

[Tandy]

Need to do something about parking. Pretty much next door heading back towards the fwy there's a massive empty site with old rusty fencing. Wonder if the owner wants to sell it. Apparently people do park there sometimes so I've been told.

 

[Roogal]

Need to do something about parking. Pretty much next door heading back towards the fwy there's a massive empty site with old rusty fencing. Wonder if the owner wants to sell it. Apparently people do park there sometimes so I've been told.

Sadly that big empty block is privately owned by property speculators who are sitting on the land waiting for the price to go up. It is private property. The Ballarat Council did offer them $4 million for it two years ago with a view to developing the land mainly for more sports fields. In particular to develop a new regional hockey centre and to allow for extension of the nearby basketball centre. There are plans to build a new car park off Howitt Street to compliment the new athletics centre. What the precinct desperately needs is the train platform over the road which the council and various key stakeholders in Ballarat have been advocating for since the stadium was first proposed. I would argue that the stadium needs better lighting and the train platform before it needs new grandstands. But what do I know? Back in 2015 the original long-term development plan was to build a large carpark on the eastern side of the rail line along Norman Street which would be about 600 metres walking distance to the stadium. That land is still all empty and there are no plans for any development along it at this point in time.

I totally agree that the stadium ought not be expanded in capacity until they sort out where and how all the patrons are going to park or come up with a better alternative means for them to get to and from the stadium (i.e. Trains).

 

[Tandy]

Sadly that big empty block is privately owned by property speculators who are sitting on the land waiting for the price to go up. It is private property. The Ballarat Council did offer them $4 million for it two years ago with a view to developing the land mainly for more sports fields. In particular to develop a new regional hockey centre and to allow for extension of the nearby basketball centre. There are plans to build a new car park off Howitt Street to compliment the new athletics centre. What the precinct desperately needs is the train platform over the road which the council and various key stakeholders in Ballarat have been advocating for since the stadium was first proposed. I would argue that the stadium needs better lighting and the train platform before it needs new grandstands. But what do I know? Back in 2015 the original long-term development plan was to build a large carpark on the eastern side of the rail line along Norman Street which would be about 600 metres walking distance to the stadium. That land is still all empty and there are no plans for any development along it at this point in time.

I totally agree that the stadium ought not be expanded in capacity until they sort out where and how all the patrons are going to park or come up with a better alternative means for them to get to and from the stadium (i.e. Trains).

That train platform would be a game changer too. I was really impressed on my first visit that Ballarat has this stadium and hopefully in the future they can make it a real feature walking from your car or train through the precinct.