$2.2 million lifeline provided to deliver Bungendore Sports Hub

Bungendore Sports Hub construction has received a boost in the form of $2.2 million in NSW government and council funding.

The hub has been under construction for the past 18 months with bulk earthworks, four netball courts, two main turf sporting fields, irrigation and floodlighting already complete.

However the land acquisition process created extra costs not covered by the original allocation of $2.45 million in grants and funds for both land and construction.

The land ended up being finalised at a “significantly higher cost” than initially estimated by Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC), according to council documents.

It brought the land total to $2,343,129.

The NSW Government has announced an additional $1.1 million in grant funding under the 2021/22 Multi Sport Community Facility Fund, with the council matching with $1.1 million of its own.

“Greater than envisaged costs associated with the land acquisition and the steady increase in the cost of materials has placed pressure on the budget,” council documents said.

“Accepting the grant and matching the amount will ensure the project will be delivered as planned.”

Mayor Kenrick Winchester thanked all levels of government for their ongoing support of the community project.

“Our region is one of the fastest growing areas in NSW and it is vital that we keep up with the demand to supply facilities like the Bungendore Sports Hub,” he said.

Member for Monaro Nichole Overall said the government money would take the new hub “a step closer to realisation”, giving the community more chances to play for their local teams.

“When built, the Bungendore Sports Hub will be a modern, inclusive and accessible facility which will benefit the Bungendore, Braidwood, Captains Flat and surrounding communities,” she said.

“It will enable more local residents to enjoy the benefits of a top-class sports and active recreation facility without having to travel too far to get to either Queanbeyan or the ACT.

“This facility will have the capacity to host gala days and competitions with teams from across NSW, bringing hundreds of visitors to our region at a time.”

This money would be used to complete the amenities building, including roof-mounted solar panels, as well as solar car park lighting, sewer pump station and electricity substation, which would complete stage one of the sports hub.

The tender to build the block has been awarded to Rice Construction.

The amenities building itself would have four separate sets of change rooms with shower and toilet facilities, a meeting and catering area, a kiosk, toilets for spectators, storage rooms and official’s facilities.

“The hub will be able to host carnivals, training and competitions in our region and have room to grow with the community,” Mayor Winchester said.

Stages 2 and 3 of the hub have received development consent from the council but were still not funded.

Stage 2 would see the surfaces of the four southern turfs prepared (including irrigation and floodlighting), a second amenities building for those fields and an extension of the car park.

Stage 3 would see the completion of two additional netball courts and a new amenities building for the courts.

Meanwhile work on the bridge and road over Halfway Creek was due to commence in the coming months and has been separately funded. The bridge included an off-road cycle and pedestrian shared pathway.

Council has also been advised its allocation of funds under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Fund (Phase 3 extension) was $1,527.707. After the next stage of construction, this left $427,707 in unallocated funding from this grant.

The Bungendore Sports Hub was identified as part of a “needs analysis” for the community in 2015.

The new Bungendore Swimming Pool would also be located at the hub but was a separate project.