Holy Spirit College: See expansion plans for new classrooms, sports court

A Queensland school ‘again reaching capacity’ is proposing a tetris-like expansion to add another 450 students to the enrolment list. Take a peek at the proposed new buildings.

Holy Spirit College students at the Mackay Anzac Day Main Service, 2021. Picture: Heidi Petith

An extra 450 students could soon enrol at Mackay’s largest private school if ambitious plans are given the green light.

The Diocese of Rockhampton for Catholic Education – the organisation behind nearly every private school in the region – has applied to complete extensive works at Holy Spirit College at the junction of Mackay-Bucasia Rd and 35 Baxter Dr.

Documents state the Mount Pleasant-based school currently has approval for 1050 students, and employs 130 full-time equivalent staff.

“The school is again reaching capacity due to growth in the catchment areas,” plans lodged to Mackay Regional Council state.

“The applicant is proposing to provide additional student spaces at the school to cater for demand.

“This will result in increasing student capacity to 1450 students serviced by 179 staff.”

Expansion plans for Holy Spirit College in Mackay including a new manual arts building and bus parking building. Picture: Supplied

Development plans for the 11.88ha site, shared with Emmanuel Catholic Primary School and Emmanuel Kindergarten, includes building a new manual arts building and removing the old one.

The new hospitality complex will come complete with a restaurant/dining area and a covered outdoor lunch area. Picture: Supplied

There will also be a new bus parking building, covered multipurpose court and amenities, teaching block and hospitality complex, and covered outdoor lunch areas.

If development plans are approved, Holy Spirit College will add another covered multipurpose court to its suite of facilities. Picture: Supplied

There are also plans to extend the existing outdoor covered area and maintenance road; demolish the existing maintenance sheds, a toilet block, and computer room; and partially remove trees, amenities and concrete pavements.

The development plans include a new outdoor covered lunch area that complements the new hospitality complex (see left of plan), a new manual arts building (see top of plan), and another new covered lunch area (see yellow area to the bottom right). Picture: Supplied

Documents state Holy Spirit College’s enrolment numbers have grown by 20 per cent since 2017.

In response, the diocese received development approval in 2019 for a new administration building, a refurbished student services hub, and a new round-shaped library.

“The library redevelopment has not occurred,” documents state.

The MySchool government website lists HSC’s current enrolments at 1018 students, making it the third largest secondary school in the Mackay region behind Mackay North State High School at 1400 pupils and Mackay Northern Beaches State High School at 1070.