Townsville Upgrades Facilities Venues and Infrastructure Supporting Sport Locally for High School Athletics

Townsville high school athletics programs recorded a 22 percent rise in registered competitors last year after the opening of two upgraded training venues in the city.

The growth matters now because the North Queensland Secondary School Sports Association has scheduled its regional championships for September at the Townsville Sports Precinct, forcing schools to finalise training schedules before the July school holidays end.

Programs at Townsville State High School on Boundary Street and Kirwan State High School on Kern Brothers Drive have shifted weekday sessions to the refurbished 400-metre synthetic track at the Townsville Sports Precinct on Palmer Street and the multi-purpose fields at the Townsville Hockey and Athletics Centre on Hugh Street.

Track and Field Capacity Increases

City records show the Palmer Street precinct added floodlighting and an eight-lane straight in late 2025 at a cost of 1.8 million dollars, while the Hugh Street site received new long-jump pits and a covered grandstand funded through the state government's Active Queensland initiative completed in April this year.

Both venues now host after-school sessions for more than 450 students from eight secondary schools each week, according to booking data released by Townsville City Council.

Next Steps for Schools and Families

Parents can register students for the September regional meet through their school's sports coordinator before 25 July, with transport arranged from the two state high schools to the Palmer Street precinct on competition days.

Further lane resurfacing at the Hugh Street centre is listed for tender in the 2026-27 council budget, with construction expected to begin after the current athletics season concludes.