A pavilion, to go with the existing netball courts, is a feature of the Bungendore Sports Hub expansion. Photo: Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) says work is progressing on a multi-million dollar expansion of sports facilities in a small town.
Over the past months, QPRC has been preparing for an expansion of the existing Bungendore Sports Hub facility.
The project is set to include new or updated facilities for a variety of sports.
Detailed work has been ongoing for some time, with some parts already under construction and others moving through the planning process.
What’s happened so far?
The council’s website states the sports hub already features four hard-surface netball courts, tiered seating, two turf fields and an amenities building (with changerooms).
One of the changes is the new netball pavilion, intended to provide additional space for the growing Bungendore Netball Club.
“[This will] be a brilliant new facility … The project is progressing well, with much of the framing now erected,” a council spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also pointed to recent improvements to the sports hub’s existing facilities, including new fencing, dugouts and seating.
There have also been improvements to the site’s drainage infrastructure and the carpark, along with landscaping works.
And there’s more to come.
“The next step in the expansion of the sports hub is the aquatic centre,” the council spokesperson said.
Wait – a new pool?
This part of the project is still in the planning stage, with QPRC recently approving rezoning so an indoor recreation facility can be built at the sports hub.
“The rezoning means that an indoor aquatic centre and all recreational/sporting facilities at the Bungendore Sports Hub are permitted on the land,” the spokesperson told Region.
Under the council’s planning, the new pool will be placed at the northern end of the site.
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.
In December 2025, the council lodged its development application (DA) for the Bungendore Aquatic Centre, revealing plans for 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 plans include a cafe, amenities and a 25-metre indoor pool. Image: Supplied.
According to the council, the final planning documents for the project are being prepared before it can be assessed by the Southern Regional Planning Panel.
“We do not have a timeframe at this stage; however these sorts of projects can take up to 9-12 months,” they said.
Does this mean Bungendore will have two pools?
It means that the council is working on developing a second pool for the town – but that doesn’t automatically mean residents will be able to dive into both.
The existing Majara Street pool 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.
The council spokesperson noted a decision on the Majara Street pool hadn’t been made.
“The existing pool will remain in place and be available to the community until a new pool has been constructed.
“It will be a future decision of council as to what to do with the existing pool once the new pool is built, following consultation with the community.”
At the time the DA was released, a QPRC spokesperson told Region that it was “unlikely to operate” both pools.
How are we paying for this?
The Australian Government, the NSW Government, development contributions and QPRC have all been pitching in to cover the project’s cost.
According to the expansion’s page on the council’s website, the non-pool elements will cost $7.9 million.
“Council continues to investigate opportunities for funding for the aquatic centre,” the spokesperson said.
