Victoria's regions have plummeted off the world stage following the government's decision to can the Commonwealth Games, but local mayors are finding solace in the promise of major investment.
Regional Cities Victoria, which comprises the state's 10 biggest regional cities, said it was greatly disappointed by the decision.
The Games were a once-in-a-lifetime event set to thrust regional Victoria into the global spotlight, and flow-on benefits were promised for every corner of the state, organisation chair and Bendigo Mayor Andrea Metcalf said.
"Outside of the hub cities, this now appears lost," she said.
The Andrews government has promised to still pour $2 billion into the regions, with $1b towards a housing fund to build more than 1300 social and affordable homes, and $150 million for tourism and events.
All of the infrastructure projects planned for the intended host councils of Ballarat, Bendigo, Latrobe, Geelong and Shepparton will also go ahead.
However, Regional Cities Victoria said sporting facilities elsewhere were in need of upgrades.
"This is a disappointing day for the 1.5 million people - a quarter of all Victorians - who call regional Victoria home and had excitedly welcomed the Commonwealth Games, encouraged by the long-term value it promised for their communities," Cr Metcalf said.
She said her council was yet to get details about the tourism fund,. and she found out about the canning of the Games just ahead of the government's announcement.
Regardless, the government's $2b commitment to regional cities was positive news, Cr Metcalf said.
Minister of the now-defunct Commonwealth Games Legacy portfolio, Harriet Shing, phoned Ballarat Mayor Des Hudson to tell him the news ahead of Tuesday's announcement.
Cr Hudson said he was confident the government would deliver on its promised investment, which would in other circumstances take the council multiple election cycles of lobbying to achieve.
The cost blowout of the Games of up to $7b would ultimately cost the taxpayer, Cr Hudson said.
"A 12-day sporting event (is) not going to occur, but the lasting legacy that will deliver us opportunities for decades to come is absolutely still on the drawing board and I still believe will be delivered," he told reporters.
The City of Ballarat was conscious the axing of the Games meant there was no deadline for local infrastructure projects, and the council would continue to lobby the government to make sure they were completed in a reasonable time frame.
City of Greater Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan said while the council was disappointed with the decision, it understood the financial pressures faced by all levels of government.
The Games were expected to create more than 7500 jobs.
"We especially feel for the significant number of Geelong-based government employees who had been working on this event, towards the 2026 deadline," Mr Sullivan said.
Latrobe City Council Mayor Kellie O'Callaghan said local sporting groups and businesses were especially disappointed by the decision.
Cr O'Callaghan said the council wasn't expecting a complete cancellation of the Games, and the lack of funding put towards it in the recent state budget piqued her interest.
