Ice rink owner Ken Jensen seeks Mackay property for new location

The key to Mackay securing an ice rink may well lie in a backyard as a businessman with rinks in Townsville and Cairns seeks a new location in the sugar city.

An ice-skating rink could be on the horizon for Mackay.

The key to a tropical Queensland winter wonderland may very well be in a Mackay backyard.

Warrina and Frozen Wonderland ice skating rinks owner Ken Jensen is on the hunt to find the perfect shed to install his third Queensland ice rink.

Mr Jensen said he has had his eye on Mackay for years now, but finding the right location at the right price had always proved difficult in the region.

“Mackay is a very prosperous town, the mining industry is pushing it along very well,” Mr Jensen said.

“It’s a matter of timing and finding a location that suits council requirements and our requirements.”

Scarlett and Isiah Rea-Bradbury at the Mackay pop-up ice skating rink at Caneland Central back in 2016. Photo Kelsie Iorio

But a recent push from a Danish ice hockey player now living in Mackay has brought Mr Jensen’s plans to the surface, with a public post asking residents to put forward their sheds for the rink.

Mr Jensen said the cost of building from the ground up in Mackay prohibited him from using vacant land.

“It costs between $130,000 and $140,000 a year on electricity alone, then about $1m worth of equipment,” he said.

“If you’re paying too much for your building you end up charging too much for clients.”

Mr Jensen wants to keep his prices capped at $20 for adults and less for adolescents and children.

Frozen Wonderland owner Ken Jensen at the site of the Cairns ice rink. Picture: Anna Rogers

Mr Jensen said subject to council restrictions, once the right building was found he could have a Mackay ice rink up and running for the June-July school holidays.

“We need a clear, spare building with no posts in the middle,” Mr Jensen said.

“Basically all we need is a tin shed or old warehouse.

“Minimum of 30 metres by 15 metres, but bigger would be nicer.

Winter ice-skating could be a reality in Mackay if the right venue can be found.

“A shed between 700 to 1000 sqm would provide for seating areas, equipment rooms and so forth.”

Mr Jensen said he was flexible on whether an ice rink could be in town or on Mackay’s outskirts.

“It can be a one-off thing that people are happy to come to,” he said.

“[It’s a] social activity, lots of birthday parties, and school groups, scouts, and coaching for novice right up to experienced skaters.”

Mr Jensen said he hoped a Mackay rink would open up tri-city competitions with Townsville and Cairns.

He said this could include ice hockey, figure skating and broomball.

Mr Jensen has encouraged anyone who may have a shed or warehouse that fits his description to phone him on 0407 988 628.