Mackay Waterfront attracts plenty of interest

Council received an excellent response to its Mackay Waterfront Expression of Interest (EOI) tender, with seven submissions received in total. Of these, two companies have been shortlisted to proceed to the next stage of consultation. They include Brisbane-based Sentinel Group Holding and local consortium ReNew Mackay Pty Ltd.

ReNew Mackay’s proposal included plans for luxury residential properties, retired living, commercial offices and tourism opportunities across the majority of the council-owned sites listed in the EOI, as well as adjoining privately-owned sites. The submission from Sentinel Group Holding focussed on the Gregory Street car park and included provision for a 4.5 star corporate hotel and a commercial, health and retail building. It also retained public car parking.

365 days of fishing
in the Mackay region!

The Mackay region is regarded as one of the best fishing destinations in Australia (and the world)! Despite the barra closed season starting at the end of this month, you can continue to catch barra all-year-round at one of our three stocked impoundments at Kinchant, Teemburra and Eungella dams.

We've been working hard to make fishing in our region even better through the installation of fish-attracting structures, fishways and boat ramp infrastructure upgrades. We are also one of only three net-free zones in Queensland and we have a dedicated website and Facebook page that promotes fishing in our region > www.hookedonmackay.com.au.

Mayor Greg Williamson explains why Mackay is the best place to drop a line in the video below…

Artspace hosts stunning cultural exhibitions

Artspace Mackay is celebrating Australian South Sea Islander and Indigenous culture with two exciting exhibitions running concurrently through November.

The first is Conversations with Australian South Sea Islanders: A Missing Chapter from Australian History. It is a stunning exhibition featuring 50 oral interviews and charcoal-drawn portraits of Australian South Sea Islanders.

The second opens this Friday (October 23) in the Foyer Gallery and is titled Jabu (Land) Birriny (Sea). It is an exciting exhibition that celebrates the unique environment of Yarrabah and its ongoing importance to culture and people.

What can you do to help conserve our water?

Residents are being asked to think of ways to help conserve our water supply.

The call comes with this week (October 19-25) marking National Water Week and our conditions starting to get drier.

Residents can keep track of their usage on council’s free myh2o.qld.gov.au website.

You can see how much water you’re using each day, how much it’s costing you and receive alerts for high usage and water leaks on your property, so you can take the necessary steps to save water and money.

Heat formalise
Mackay ties

The Brisbane Heat will play their part in helping Queensland regional economies recover this summer with the announcement of an innovative partnership. Council will enter into a three-year agreement with the Heat to promote Mackay and the neighbouring Whitsunday region and deliver Rebel Women’s Big Bash League matches to the area in 2021 and 2022.

The deal will see the championship WBBL Brisbane Heat sport Mackay destination messaging on their sleeve in the upcoming series, commencing on October 25 in Sydney, as well as targeted digital assets and innovations driven by the Heat’s award-winning content creation team.

Council encourages everyone to Get Ready!

Council is excited to launch Get Ready Mackay! Throughout October and November council will launch a media blitz educating residents on how to prepare for disaster season. Mayor Greg Williamson said council was urging all residents to take the time now to prepare for disaster season.

“When it comes to disasters, Mackay has had them all – floods, bushfires, heatwaves and cyclones. Severe weather patterns are all part of living in a tropical paradise,” Mayor Williamson said.

“However, history has shown us that our best defence is preparedness. We don’t want residents to be alarmed – just prepared,” he said.

Calls for yearly review of industrial land supply

Council is being advised to conduct a yearly review of the Mackay region’s economy and industrial land use to make sure we have adequate land supply into the future. The recommendation comes after council commissioned and received an independent report on industrial land supply developed by Ethos Urban Consultancy. The report recommended the annual supply and demand review based on the uncertainty of future land take-up caused by international coal market trade risks and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Future growth scenarios also showed the Paget industrial area could be exhausted by the year 2033. Mayor Greg Williamson said the independent report gave a clear picture of what needed to be done to be able to release industrial land in a timely manner.

Community grant will keep kids fishing

School-aged anglers and our region's fish stocks were happy recipients of a community grant in the latest round of funding. It was a drop in the ocean amongst the $187,907 Community Grants funding round that was approved, but $1362 will go towards the replacement of rods and reels that enable kids to learn about sustainable fishing practices.

Also receiving funding as part of the round was Mackay PCYC. The club received $4000 towards the purchase of seven three-wheeler bikes and training wheels to enable children and adults to participate in their Bike Education Program. The largest grant went to Mackay Hockey Association Inc who received the maximum $30,000 minor infrastructure grant to replace the training pitch that is used for juniors and their disabled academy.