Hard hats and big ideas

Students across the College have been eagerly following the progress of the new Physical Education and Sport Precinct. This year, the opening of the Aquatics Centre will support everything from foundational programs like Learn to Swim to high-performance pathways through the MLC Aquatic Club, welcoming both MLC and non-MLC athletes.

Beyond the build itself, the Precinct is already becoming a platform for learning and creativity. A new interactive learning space, developed in partnership with builder Kapitol Group, has opened on campus to help students explore the project more deeply. All students, from Kindergarten to Year 12, are invited to ask questions, connect their learning, and contribute ideas.

In Term 3 2025, the 25 Year 6 Sustainability Leaders, who keep their fellow Junior School students informed about environmental initiatives and developments around the College, were invited to visit the Precinct building site on a chilly August morning.

“We realised that this would be a great way to support the students to inform the Junior School community about the building developments,” says Year 6 teacher Evelyn Nguyen.

“The students were very taken with the idea; it presented a unique opportunity to experience for themselves the scale and scope of the Precinct.”

Donning hard hats and high-vis vests, the Sustainable Leaders were joined by Sebastian Angus, Project Manager on the Precinct, for their special behind-the-scenes tour. They walked across the new swimming pool floor and stood at the bottom of the four-metre deep dive bowl for a brief lesson on concrete.

As students Emily Y and Amy Z recall: “The cement they used was a very special mix, called self-healing concrete. It’s designed to become stronger over time and seals small holes in its surface.”

Naturally, the students were very interested to learn about sustainability practices on building sites.

“We asked many questions, and we know that rainwater will be re-used,” revealed Charlotte G and Pauline X. “Rainwater will be stored in tanks and used to water our plants, and it will also be used for flushing the toilets.”

“Sebastian talked about the sustainable materials the builders use at our school,’ said Gabrielle W and Evelyn P. “We had a small discussion about the 2,000 truckloads used to carry reusable dirt, and how solar panels will cover about 90% of the roof!”

Grace G and Jessy S shared some information about the timber used onsite: “Did you know that 95% of the wood used at the construction site was reused from previous projects?”

The Sustainability Leaders provided a special update to the Junior School at their Assembly at the end of the term. Their presentation featured facts about the sustainable building processes they learned about and saw while onsite, plus a special video showcasing their memorable experience.

The Aquatics Centre, featuring the new swimming pool and dive bowl, is expected to open in mid-2026. This milestone will also include the opening of a brand-new Junior School playground.

“We are all extremely excited to see the finished Precinct!” said Gabrielle W and Evelyn P.

We invite you to explore our dedicated website where all updates, including design visuals and construction progress, will be listed.