PHOTO: Cancelled 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games.
🚜 Construction Starts at Former Commonwealth Games Village Site
Almost three years after Victoria controversially abandoned plans to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Geelong site originally intended to house athletes is finally springing to life.
Civil contractors have commenced earthworks on Silverbrook, a major residential subdivision at Mount Duneed that is expected to deliver nearly 400 new homes, including around 100 social and affordable dwellings.
Instead of welcoming thousands of international athletes, the land south of Waurn Ponds Station is now being transformed into one of Geelong’s newest masterplanned communities.
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🏠 A New Housing Community Takes Shape
Development of Silverbrook is underway with local contractor Draper’s Civil Contracting beginning work on the first stages of the project.
The initial release comprises just nine sections, ranging in size from 304 square metres to 605 square metres, with prices expected to begin at approximately $350,000.
The broader development will eventually create:
- Nearly 400 homes
- Around 100 social and affordable housing properties
- Sixteen new streets
- Creekside reserve frontages
- Walking and cycling networks
- Access to schools, retail centres and public transport
Silverbrook has been designed to integrate with future upgrades planned around the Waurn Ponds rail precinct.
First render of the Silverbrook project that is expected to deliver 400 homes immediately south of the Waurn Ponds train station. Source: Development Victoria.
Civil construction work has started on the Silverbrook development south of Baanyip Blvd at Mount Dune
🚉 Transport Upgrades Planned
Residents of the new community are expected to benefit from a range of transport improvements.
These include:
- A new commuter car park at Waurn Ponds Station
- A signalised intersection on Baanip Boulevard
- A bus interchange connecting the growing residential catchment
- Improved pedestrian and cycling links
Works on some of these transport projects are expected to begin later this year.
Swimmers Kaylee McKeown and Hannah Casey pose during the Speedo Australian 2026 Commonwealth Games Uniform Launch on June 15, 2026 in Sydney recently. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
🌿 Wadawurrung Partnership for Reserve Design
Development Victoria is partnering with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation to help shape the design of the estate’s natural reserve areas.
Several larger parcels of land have also been identified for future affordable housing projects, supporting the Victorian Government’s objective of increasing housing supply in regional growth centres.
The Waurn Ponds railway station precinct was earmarked as the site of the athletes village in Geelong for the cancelled Victorian Commonwealth Games.
🏟️ A Different Legacy for the Cancelled Games
The Waurn Ponds precinct was once promoted as Geelong’s contribution to the 2026 Commonwealth Games before the Victorian Government withdrew from hosting the event in 2023, citing escalating costs.
Australian athletes will instead travel to Glasgow, Scotland, for a significantly scaled-back version of the Games.
While the cancellation generated widespread criticism, Silverbrook may ultimately provide a different kind of legacy by delivering much-needed housing in one of Victoria’s fastest-growing regions.
Planning for the northern section of the estate, bordering Muir Road, remains ongoing, with the entire Silverbrook project expected to be completed progressively through to 2031.
📌 Key Takeaways
✅ Construction has commenced at Silverbrook, Mount Duneed.
✅ The site was originally planned as Geelong’s Commonwealth Games athletes’ village.
✅ Nearly 400 homes are proposed, including 100 affordable and social housing properties.
✅ Land prices are expected to start from around $350,000.
✅ The project will be delivered in stages through to 2031.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM.AU