Families in Durack are still waiting for work to begin on a major school sports project that is meant to boost student training ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Games, with Go for Gold construction rollout one year behind its intended schedule and yet to start.
Delayed School Upgrades Across Key Communities
Records show that six schools across Queensland received the highest level of Go for Gold funding, aimed at building large sport and training facilities to support growing student programs.
Queensland originally planned for all projects to be completed by December 2025, but no construction has begun. The Department of Education has advised that work is now expected to start in early 2026 and finish by the end of that year, depending on weather, builder availability and scheduling changes.
Durack Project Affected by Statewide Re-Prioritisation
Glenala State High School in Durack was set to receive nearly $4 million for covered outdoor courts to support its netball program. The school later learned that its upgrade was shifted down the priority list as the state focused first on schools in northern and remote areas, where wet-season delays were more likely.
This adjustment has pushed Glenala’s project back even further, adding uncertainty for families hoping for improved training facilities.
Shifting Timelines for Schools Across Queensland
According to the Department of Education, schools in Townsville, Cairns and Thursday Island were placed at the front of the queue due to distance and predictable seasonal conditions. The earliest projects expected to be completed are at Aitkenvale State School and Bentley Park College in late 2026. While there is a budget of more than $1 billion for school infrastructure this financial year, the Go for Gold rollout has not matched original expectations.
Community Interest Grows as Deadlines Move
Parents and school communities in Durack say the delays affect their plans for training, sport involvement and student participation. The program was announced to encourage children to take part in sport and give schools better spaces as the city prepares for the 2032 Olympics. The latest budget papers show more than 60 per cent of the program funding had already been allocated by mid-2025, yet the majority of physical works remain unstarted.
The Department of Education has stated that it continues to monitor project timelines and will speed up delivery where possible.
Published 3-Dec-2025
