The Victorian Government has announced the commencement of geotechnical works at the state’s Commonwealth Games Village 2026 site at Morwell.
Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery, Jacinta Allan said a team of experts will be drilling boreholes and excavating test pits at various locations across the 4.4 hectare site between 30 January and 2 February 2023 to verify ground conditions before more detailed designs on the village commence.
She said boreholes will allow engineers to collect physical samples of soil and rock beneath the surface to help better understand the ground conditions on site for when construction on the Morwell Games village gets underway later this year.
The boreholes will vary in depth between 1.5 metres and 8 metres using a drilling rig mounted on a four-wheel drive and a tracked drill rig, with the holes to be backfilled once samples are collected.
“Victoria 2026 will deliver a world-class Commonwealth Games and we’re excited to showcase the Gippsland region to the world while boosting the economy, creating jobs and bringing visitors to the region,” said Minister Allan.
“We’re getting on with delivering the Commonwealth Games in regional Victoria and the geotechnical investigations are an important first step in the planning and design of the Morwell Games village.”
A proportion of housing at each village site will be set aside for social and affordable housing, and the State Government is working with local Councils and social and affordable housing providers to ensure that the use of the Games villages after Victoria 2026 best reflects the needs of the local community.
The Games village at Morwell will be a home-away-from-home for around 1,000 athletes and officials. Five sports will be staged in the region, including Shooting and Para Shooting, Women’s T20 Cricket, Badminton, Rugby Sevens and Road Cycling.
It is estimated the 2026 Commonwealth Games will create more than 600 full-time equivalent jobs before they start, 3,900 jobs during the Games and a further 3,000 jobs after the Closing Ceremony and is expected to contribute more than $3 billion to Victoria’s economy.
Development Victoria is the Victorian Government’s delivery partner for the Games villages and will oversee the contractors undertaking the geotechnical investigations at Morwell.
