Expression of Interest (EOI) to build the Commonwealth Games villages across the regions, ahead of Victoria 2026, is now open for the construction industry.
When the Commonwealth Games get underway in March 2026, the Games villages are set to house around 7,000 athletes and officials in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Morwell.
Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery Jacinta Allan said the opening of the EOI process is another step closer to delivering Victoria 2026.
“Victoria 2026 will invest significantly in community infrastructure, including much needed additional housing in regional communities,” she added.
Construction of the Games villages creates huge opportunities for local contractors to be involved.
Related stories:
- Victoria’s Eureka Stadium upgrade underway
- Victoria delivers $144 billion infrastructure program
- Construction of Victoria’s State Basketball Centre making headway
Early works at each location are expected to begin later this year, with village designs and numbers of dwellings required at each site still being finalised.
Development Victoria’s Group Head Commonwealth Games Joanne Wandel said Development Victoria is the delivery partner for the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games villages.
“The Expression of Interest process will bring us one step closer to having builders on board to deliver the villages across regional Victoria,” she said.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the construction sector to participate in the Expression of Interest process to help build the four Games villages across Victoria.”
Through the EOI process, Development Victoria is seeking input from the market about their capacity, capability and appetite to be involved, with the response set to help inform decisions including types of permanent and temporary dwellings that will be delivered.
Delivery partners are invited to submit an EOI to support delivery of:
- Medium-density dwellings, including pre-fabricated relocatable dwellings.
- Small apartment buildings.
- Place making.
Interested parties can register via the Buying for Victoria website buyingfor.vic.gov.au, from which a shortlist of contractors will be invited to participate in a Request for Proposal process. The EOI is open until Tuesday 2pm, 28 February.
The EOI process for builders for the Games Villages will be subject to: Local Jobs First policy; Fair Jobs Code; Social Procurement Framework; and Building Equality Policy.
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.