Shalom College to expand sports precinct

Bundaberg Regional Council is considering a proposal to redevelop part of one of the region’s school grounds into new AFL, rugby, cricket and athletics fields.

Site map of the location for the redeveloped sporting grounds at Shalom College.

Shalom College is in the process of expanding its sporting precinct to accommodate its expanding cricket, AFL and rugby league playing students.

The application was submitted to the Bundaberg Regional Council on September 19, 2022 and is still in the processing stage.

Development Planning and Approvals will handle the development of the precinct, which will refresh the existing area already used by students.

“The co-location of the fields with existing sport and education facilities provides for an improved offering of recreational activities for college students and residents of Bundaberg,” the application said.

Principal Dan McMahon said the expansion was an exciting opportunity for the students.

“It will offer better facilities and significantly increased play space at lunch times.

“Physical Education is a subject studied by hundreds of students at Shalom and the new spaces will provide great facilities for practical aspects of that subject,” he said.

The expansion will also include flood lights for night games and training.

Formal gallery Shalom College 2019

The existing toilet block will be demolished as part of the new sporting precinct.

“The new sports precinct will enable us to reshape what we currently have and also develop an AFL field and a new soccer and rugby field.

“We will also be able to spread out our facilities for athletics,” Mr McMahon said.

As more and more people move to the Bundaberg region, student numbers are expected to rise and improvements to the Shalom College sporting precinct may prove invaluable to generations of future students.

Site map of the location for the new sporting ground.

“The expansion of Shalom College provides for improved facilities for the local population, while also future-proofing the college to be able to cater for additional students as the Bundaberg population increases,” the application said.

The school has more than 1300 students enrolled, with more than 200 staff and students encouraged to take part in sports.

Development of the new site will begin as soon as the application is approved by council.

“The application for development of this space has only recently been submitted to council. As soon as their approval is received, we hope to begin development as soon as is feasible,” said Mr McMahon.