A gateway for 150 workers

IT'S two years since the Motordome saw its last monster truck, but these days the only machinery on site are bulldozers working on the Gateway Industrial Park.

IT has been two years since the Mackay Motordome saw its last monster truck, but these days the only machinery on site are bulldozers working on the completion of Gateway Industrial Park.

On Wednesday the Mackay Regional Council approved completion of the project's operational works which has set the scene for the Gateway National team to commence work on internal roads, sewerage and stormwater work as early as next week.

Gateway National general manager Michael Graham said it had a significant number of committed tenants and purchasers within its estate and it was time to finalise the project.

“We are catering largely to companies that service the mining and recourses sector. We have already secured tenants in the heavy engineering field as well as plant hire and construction services.”

Mr Graham said Gateway National has been working with the MRC for two years and it had been a detailed process to ensure the Gateway Industrial Park worked favourably with the rest of the infrastructure requirements of the area.

“We will be formally meeting with the MRC next Wednesday as a pre-start meeting to our operational works; from there we will commence the construction of all final works including roads with all works completed by June 2009.

“Gateway National was building high-quality industrial sheds with adjoining office facilities and has employed and will continue to employ local contractors in the civil phase and during construction,” he said.

“At its peak we expect to see in excess of 150 working directly on site and once completed the estate is expected to cater for between 600 and 800 people.”

Mr Graham said the current slowdown was the perfect opportunity to take stock and prepare for the next phase of growth .

“Mackay is one of the strongest and fastest growing regions in the country and has significant infrastructure in place to fight off much of the current economic pressure,” he said.

Originally published as A gateway for 150 workers