What’s Latrobe City doing with its $5 million Commonwealth Games package?

“While it doesn’t replace it, it does help ease the pain.”

Author

Jacob Wallace
March 27, 2026

Latrobe City councillors said they would much rather be attending badminton and soccer matches at the Commonwealth Games right now – but they’re happy to receive $5 million from the state government in compensation.

What happened: At a Latrobe City council meeting on March 23, councillors unanimously voted to allocate $25,000 of the $5 million compensation package towards a Moe skateboarding festival. The package, received from the state government after its cancellation of the Commonwealth Games, will be spent on a range of projects across the shire.

Cancelled games: In July 2023, fifteen months after agreeing to host the games, then-Premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, announced its cancellation.

  • Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Latrobe Valley were set to be the main hubs for events held across regional Victoria from March 17-29.

In the press conference announcing its cancellation, Andrews said the potential cost to host the games had escalated to $6-7 billion, up from the original $2.6 billion estimate.

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Aftermath: In August 2023, the Victorian government agreed to pay $380 million in compensation to Commonwealth Games organisations for breaking the hosting contact.

In addition to this bill, the state government announced a $2 billion regional support package to manage the cancellation of the games. This package included $5 million for each of the four regional hub councils.

Enter: Shred Fest

Last year, the council outlined 22 projects for the $5 million to be spent on, which included upgrades to sporting venues, community assets and streetscapes.

A recent cost saving analysis by the council freed up an extra $225,000, which the council unanimously voted to spend on three new projects, including hosting the second edition of Shred Fest at Moe Skate Park.

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What are the new works? The latest projects include:

  • Streetscape works at McDonald Street and Maryvale Road, Morwell ($70,000); 

  • Additional grounds maintenance equipment ($130,000), and;

  • A second Shred Fest at Moe Skate Park ($25,000).

🗣️ Councillor Dale Harriman said: “These are great projects, as much as we would’ve liked to have the Commonwealth Games here now and be swirling around the events, watching badminton, soccer and rugby.”

What is Shred Fest?

Shred Fest is a three-day skateboarding and community festival held for the first time last year at Moe’s George Street Skate Park.

  • The event includes skating competitions that locals can enter, skating lessons and stunt shows. 

Councillor Adele Pugsley said it was great to see the skatepark in Moe so activated and vibrant last year and is looking forward to the second installment of the festival.