John-Paul Langbroek opens multi-purpose school halls in Hervey Bay

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek joined Hervey Bay LNP MP David Lee at Urangan State High School on Wednesday morning to open the new multi-purpose halls there and at Urangan Point State School.

Two Hervey Bay state schools have opened new multi-purpose halls as part of Olympic legacy funding. Photo: H&L Metal Roofing and Cladding

Two multimillion-dollar school projects were officially opened in Hervey Bay on Wednesday.

Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek joined Hervey Bay LNP MP David Lee at Urangan State High School on Wednesday morning to open the new multi-purpose halls there and at Urangan Point State School.

The facilities cost a combined $26 million, with $16 million spent on the state high’s facilities and $10 million at the primary school.

The performing arts stage inside the new Urangan State High School hall.

Urangan State High’s hall boasts two full size basketball courts and a stage for performing arts, with the first whole-school assembly, after “many decades” of meetings spread out over the school, taking place earlier this year.

Mr Langbroek said the investment would open doors to future education, arts, and sporting opportunities.

“These new halls will help to unlock the potential of aspiring Olympians, Paralympians and performing artists, while benefiting the broader community,” he said.

“This is a meaningful investment in the future of our young people.

“I hope in 2032 we celebrate a medallist who may have started their sporting journey on one of these courts.”

Two full-size basketball and multi-purpose courts were a key part of the hall's funding.

Urangan State High principal Tony McCormack said his school was “incredibly proud of this facility”.

“It is a community-changing facility for us.

“The community connections that our school is really proud of are enhanced so many times by this facility and what it enables for us.”

Mr McCormack hoped the new facilities would help nurture a home-grown Olympian.

Education Minister John Paul Langbroek, LNP Hervey Bay MP David Lee and principal Tony McCormack officially opened two new halls at Urangan State School and Urangan Point State School on Wednesday morning.

“Traditionally we’ve had a large number of representative sport participants,” he said.

“We’ve got some outstanding triathletes here through the work of Brian Harrington, who retired last year.

“We also got funding to enhance our rock-climbing walls and put in our sports climbing facility.

“Our plans for 2032 are very much on-track.”

Urangan State High School

Mr Langbroek was asked whether more schools in the region would receive similar upgrades thanks to the 2032 Olympics, to which he said there will be announcements made in next week’s state budget.

“I’ve got an aging fleet with many schools now approaching 150 years of age, and that’s a challenge for me to work with the Treasurer to make sure we’ve got up-to-date facilities,” he said.

“We want state schools to be seen as equal to any other schools in the state.”

Originally published as John-Paul Langbroek opens multi-purpose school halls in Hervey Bay