The 2030 Commonwealth Games taskforce will meet council representatives this afternoon following revelations four other regional councils wish to join the collective regional bid.

Portland, Swan Hill, Horsham and Wangaratta publicly put their hand up to host events overnight.

Taskforce members including chair Adem Karafili, John Steffensen, Mitch Catlin and Jeanette Powell will meet mayor Margaret O’Rourke and chief executive Craig Niemann. 

Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong are the only regional towns penciled in for face-to-face taskforce meetings before a collective meetings of mayors on April 28.

Taskforce member Mitch Catlin said all of the state’s regional mayors will be invited to the meeting in a fortnight. 

The 11 current members of the bid, which is being led by the Greater Shepparton city council, are Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, Warrnambool/Port Campbell, Wodonga, Mount Buller, Mildura, Yarrawonga, Traralgon and Nagambie.

Shepparton mayor Dinny Adem last week apologised for failing to inform some councils of the joint bid sooner after Bendigo found out the day before the announcement.

Mayor Margaret O’Rourke made light of the short notice, saying “it was a surprise, but not blindsided”, Greater Shepparton mayor Dinny Adem said he understood why some councils “might be peeved”. 

“Half of the letters (informing councils) went out late last week (April 6-7), half went out Monday (April 10),” Cr Adem said. 

It is understood a number of regional councils were not consulted before the bold plan was announced.