The proposed expansion includes work on a new pool for Bungendore. Image: Supplied.
Concerns have been raised as Queanbeyan Council moves ahead with planning for Bungendore’s new pool.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) unanimously adopted a proposal to rezone land around the Bungendore Sports Hub at a recent meeting.
The move clears a major hurdle for the expansion of the facility, which is expected to include a new pool at the northern end of the site.
That process passed a major milestone in late 2025, when the council released a proposal for public comment.
It suggested that private and council-owned land around the facility be rezoned into either the RU1 Primary Production or RE1 Public Recreation categories, to allow for an indoor recreation facility.
Councillor John Preston welcomed the finalisation of the rezoning process.
“It’s always good to see this sports hub – which is a very well-used, and now well-loved part of the Bungendore community – continue to progress and continue to be supported by this council.
During the council meeting, councillor Katrina Willis said the chosen site for the new pool still came with a flood risk.
“As the project is heavily dependent on government grant funding, we need to be certain that proceeding with the location will not jeopardise a successful application … If the aquatic centre is to remain at the sports hub, the risk report identifies measures that will increase the project cost.”
QPRC previously abandoned a possible location towards the southern end of the site, due to its flood risk and the amount of work needed to mitigate it.
Cr Willis sought further information from council staff on their evaluation of those risks and how they would be handled at the new site, including on cost and what specific mitigation measures were being planned.
In response to her questions, a staff member told the meeting the flood risk assessment included in the meeting documents covered the rezoning proposal (rather than focusing on the planned pool itself).
“Yes, the staff did consider other locations … But where the pool comes forward in Bungendore is not actually the question you have before you tonight,” they said.
“This is now around completing a planning proposal [for the project].”
Another staff member told the meeting the change in location would mean the pool was outside the zone for a one-in-100-year flood.
In December 2025, the council lodged plans for a development application (DA) for the Bungendore Aquatic Centre, featuring a 25-metre, eight-lane pool, a splash pad and tiered seating.
Other planned facilities include a reception area, an office for staff, a cafe, cold and dry storage and toilet amenities.
The council’s DA tracker states this DA, with application ID DA.2025.0576, is listed as ‘In Progress’.
The meeting heard that the documents would be reviewed by staff to see if they needed to be updated to show that Bungendore’s only outdoor aquatic facility, in Majara Street, is back in the hands of QPRC.
It was originally slated to be demolished while the NSW Department of Education pushed ahead with plans to build Bungendore’s newest school at the Majara and Gibraltar streets precinct.
The school will now be located at a four-hectare site in Birchfield Drive, with the community celebrating the start of construction last year.
