Our Journalists

Luke LayReporter

Luke Lay is a reporter for the Mackay Daily Mercury.

@Lukelay10

Luke Lay

Latest

Mackay

Construction, tradesman, tradie, building, site, worker, high-vis, hi-vis, crane, generic shots.

Why record approvals aren’t speeding up housing

While Mackay and Whitsundays saw housing approvals double over the past year, but residents are left waiting to collect their keys as builders issue a warning.

Mackay

Olifants DA drawings of a proposed childcare centre on 63 Norris Rd, mount Pleasant approved by council on June 18, 2025

Division debate dies, childcare centre approved

A poor response to a council survey has killed the division debate, and a $21m contract has been won by a local builder. Catch up on the latest Mackay Regional Council meeting.

Mackay

Police do not believe the fire was suspicious. Photo: Luke Lay

‘Massive damage’: Fire tears through home, two taken to hospital

Police closed off a Mackay street after a fire tore through a home and sent two people to the hospital, with a suspected cause already identified.

Mackay

Concept art of the kiosk/reception building that will service the park.

‘Environmentally delinquent’: Residents fight approved RV tourist park

A plan to transform a sleepy beach town in the Mackay region into a tourist destination for RVs and campers has been approved by council, but some residents have raised alarms.

Police & Courts

‘Fabrication’: Miner found not guilty of raping pregnant wife

A Qld miner whose ex-wife claimed he raped her has been found not guilty by a jury after his barrister argued the case was fuelled by a bitter property dispute.

PICTURESRockhampton

Bendigo Bushmaster. An Australian Army Bushmaster protected mobility vehicle disembarks a landing craft during a combined joint force entry operation as part of Exercise Keris Woomera at Banongan Beach, Indonesia. *** Local Caption *** As part of Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2024 (IPE24), the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) will conduct a bilateral amphibious activity for the first time as part of Exercise KERIS WOOMERA. Exercise KERIS WOOMERA is a combined joint activity conducted by ADF and TNI forces including approximately 2,000 personnel drawn from the Navy, Army, and Air Forces of each nation. By training together, forces from Indonesia and Australia can build upon shared tactics, techniques, and procedures to enhance interoperability and readiness to respond to shared security challenges in the region.

Bushmaster 13-tonne army truck rolled on highway

A man in his 20s has been injured in an army truck rollover on a busy highway in Central Queensland.

Mackay

Generic ambulance, QAS, Queensland Ambulance Service, emergency services, Thursday, August 29, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Car crashes off highway to dodge kangaroo

A man in his 20s has crashed his car in an embankment off a highway in an attempt to dodge a kangaroo west of Mackay.

Mackay

‘Waiting with bated breath’: MP ‘pushing’ to keep high school election promise

After a long-planned lift and parking space was installed at a Mackay school, MP Nigel Dalton said he’s ‘pushing’ for the upgrades he promised at the recent state election.

Mackay

A cane train has gone off the rails near Sugar Shed Rd, Erakala. Photo: Luke Lay. June 13, 2025.

Cane train goes off the rails

A cane train has derailed on a Mackay road, with a crane called in to help clean up the mess — including full bins.

Police & Courts

Margaret Anne Zammit and Simon Paul Zammit from Zammit Earthmoving coming out of the Mackay Magistrate's court after pleading guilty to not complying contravening orders on June 12, 2025

‘Rockfall risk’, dodgy depot: Earthmoving company in deep trouble

A Qld excavation company and the couple behind it have been warned their 15-month “freekick” is over and must now follow these court orders.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/journalists/luke-lay/page/5