Mackay development 2021: Major projects shaping our region
Major progress has been made on traffic pain points while the city’s skyline is set to host a new high rise with these major projects ticked off in 2021. See the list of major pojects here.
Business
Don't miss out on the headlines from Business. Followed categories will be added to My News.
From ambitious plans to overhaul Mackay’s premier sporting facilities to industry expansions for the first time in decades, 2021 was a year that had its challenges but encouraged bravery in the business sector.
Long-held plans came to fruition and secured approvals while developers secured the green light to proceed with designs that will shape the future on Mackay and the wider region.
We take a look at the 21 major projects of 2021, many of which will carry over into the New Year as the developments get under way.
Signature Onfarm
Josie and Blair Angus are the mum-and-dad cattle entrepreneurs behind Signature Onfarm, bringing processing “back to the bush” in a bid to meet the international appetite for high-value red meat.
It is a new element to the Bowen Basin which is teeming with coal mines, train tracks and overhead power lines jutting out like the vertebrae of an industrial machine.
And though made of metal, the Moranbah slaughterhouse is surrounded by sunlit pastures with roaming cattle.
The plant features four big chillers or “big fridge(s)” plus blast freezers to gradually reduce beef to the correct temperature over two days instead of the typical 24 hours.
Catherine McAuley College
Mackay’s newest high school has reached enrolment capacity, indicating the demand for private education in the city.
Catherine McAuley College will open in 2022, with principal Jim Ford excited about the prospects of the foundational school and its student cohort.
Mr Ford said expressions of interest for the 2023 school year had opened, key staff appointed and development on track for handover and furnishing for 2022.
Ban-Na Thai Restaurant
One of Mackay’s most popular restaurants celebrated its big move to a new location in the CBD.
Ban-Na Thai Restaurant has enjoyed a wave of strong bookings since re-opening in October at the corner of Victoria and Macalister Sts.
The doors were opened on Saturday, October 30, with Mackay diners eager to enjoy the new restaurant. Bookings have remained solid since.
Mackay Northern Access Upgrade
Years of commuter headaches eased in 2021 with progress made on the Mackay Northern Access Upgrade to the Northern Beaches area.
The long-awaited left lane at the intersection of Mackay Bucasia Rd and Malcomson St eased a traffic pain-point while gradual progress has been made on the Bruce Highway at the intersection of Sams Rd and Heaths Rd.
Mercurius’ plant
Specialised equipment was unloaded from Mackay docks and installed into a pilot plant ready to turn sugar into jet fuel and plastic beer bottles.
US-based company Mercurius has finalised testing of its pilot plant at the Mackay Racecourse that uses a patented REACH technology.
Through catalytic hydrolysis, it can turn biomass feedstocks — in this case sugar — into price-competitive and renewable “drop-in” fuels for jet and diesel engines that unlike biodiesel do not require further modification for retail use.
The plant can also change sugar into renewable chemicals for bio-based industrial plastics such as bottles, textiles, food packaging, electronic materials and automotive applications.
Biocommodities Pilot Plant
Like the king’s daughter wove straw into gold for Rumpelstiltskin, Mackay sugar will transform into alternative proteins as part of a lucrative global industry tipped to reach $700 billion by 2040.
In a modern take on the aged-old process behind making bread and yoghurt, sugar will be fed to microorganisms — in this case fungus or yeasts — in a fermentation process that then produces alternative proteins.
GW3 CEO Kylie Porter said the “precision fermentation” at the Mackay Racecourse’s Renewable Commodities Pilot Plant fed into an insatiable, worldwide demand for synthetic protein for the manufacture of various foods.
“As the global population continues to increase, we literally do not have enough animal-based protein,” Ms Porter said.
“So we’re going to have to look at alternatives.
Dittman Bucking Bulls
The $2.6 million complex has only been 11 months in construction but Jason Dittmann said the dream was many years in the making.
The huge grandstand looms over the arena with space to the side for corporate tents to host a whopping total of 3000 spectators.
50+ PICS: Bucking good time at inaugural rodeo
Swinging saloon doors welcome patrons into a western style bar with a paddock dedicated to camping just a short stumble away.
Dittmann’s Bull Pit is set to put Midge Point on the national bull riders map hosting several PBR events a year.
But it’s not just professionals who will have the opportunity jump in the pit.
The arena opened with a hugely successful bullride in August.
McDonald’s Andergrove
As the new Andergrove McDonald’s prepared to open, owner Niki Ramsay was excited about the 120 jobs the new store will generate.
She said she was focused on how she could help other families and her community as her family’s empire grows.
That includes recruiting another 230 people for jobs at the family’s other stores across the region and seeking out sponsorship opportunities.
Just 10 days ago, the Mackay Meteors wore Hamburglar-themed singlets as part of a McDonald’s initiative to raise money for the new Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mackay Base Hospital.
The event smashed all records, raising more than $30,000 in the post-match auction.
Coles Andergrove
Drive-through grocery pick-ups and a pet treat bar were some of the exciting novelties awaiting residents at the new Andergrove Coles.
The new shopping complex opened in July, equipped with some of the newest shopping innovations.
They include Queensland’s first click and collect drive-through service and the increasingly popular pet pick-and-mix bar and tap and go coffee station.
IN PICS: New Andergrove Coles supermarket a big hit
The Andergrove Village Shopping Centre anchor tenant will also employed 85 retail staff and 125 people through its operations, after more than 100 construction jobs were created during the build.
Store manager Daniel Ryan said he was excited to welcome new customers into the brand new centre.
Mackay Animal Management Centre
Staff and animals moved into the new administration and kennel buildings at the Mackay Animal Management Centre in December.
The newly upgraded centre means the former facility will be demolished so the second stage of upgrades could begin in 2022.
The first stage, coming in at $3.39m, included clearing land and building the new centre that includes 22 cat condos and 42 dog enclosures.
Mackay Port Access Road Stage 2
A move signalling the $350m Mackay Port Access Road is powering ahead as a “done deal” has been described as “devastating” for a growing sport.
Aurecon has applied on behalf of the Department of Transport and Main Roads to complete three months of geotechnical works for Stage 2 of the Ring Road connecting the Bruce Highway to Harbour Road.
Forecast to enable the Mackay Port to diversify its exports, the road plans are more than four decades in the making with the first feasibility study for the major corridor road done in 1977.
Documents submitted to Mackay Regional Council in November state the current preliminary design is for a two-lane 9.5km roadway from Valley St in the west to Harbour Rd in the east.
Mackay Adventure Lodge and Apartments
Developers are hoping they can lure backpackers from Airlie Beach by building budget accommodation next to Mackay’s cable water ski park.
A consortium of businesses have asked Mackay Regional Council to approve $539.761 of concessions on infrastructure charges towards two proposed developments, six months after lodging the initial application.
These include 10 two-bedroom units which would be built and then sold to fund the construction of Mackay Adventures Lodge and Apartments along Beaconsfield Road in Andergrove.
“The Lodge incorporates five dormitories (sleeping a total of 30 persons) and 16 double rooms (32 persons) targeting budget two-three star accommodation,” council documents stated.
Sarina Hospital
Funding has been secured for the new Sarina Hospital months after construction was anticipated to begin.
Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert, in announcing a $6.6 million upgrade for the Mackay District Community Mental Health Service in Nelson St in June, said there was more than $30 million set aside for the “exciting” Sarina Hospital rebuild.
“We have got over $51 million in the budget for upgrades to our (hospital and health service) facilities across our region,” the Assistant Health Minister said.
“That includes upgrades from Bowen down to Sarina and also here in Mackay.”
Mrs Gilbert said work on the rebuild was “powering ahead”, with the modern state-of-the-art facility to include 16 beds to take pressure off the Mackay Base Hospital.
She said designers were asked to finish the plans as quickly as possible but they were still configuring what the specialised departments would look like.
Harrup Park Great Barrier Reef Arena
Mackay’s grand vision to become a premier sporting destination in regional Queensland has become clearer, with Harrup Park developers unveiling key features for the new Great Barrier Reef Arena.
The $24.2 million development of the sporting complex would include new additions to the arena as well as upgraded existing amenities.
Harrup Park general manager Adrian Young, who spoke at the official sod-turning at the ground, said it was an exciting time to be a sports fan in Mackay.
“Once we’ve got the stage one developments in it’ll be so much easier for elite sporting teams, international or domestic, to come in and play games,” he said.
“It (the international cricket series) shows you what’s potentially available for us going forward.”
Mackay waterfront PDA
The final touches to a $300 million development plan that will shape Mackay’s future can now be applied to the ambitious waterfront vision.
ReNew Mackay’s win on the project’s tender process will propel the consortium’s plan to revive and enliven six city blocks, creating more than 3000 jobs during construction and injecting $70m in economic activity into the region each year.
Another 800 ongoing jobs were also expected.
A decision 18 months in the making is now a giant hurdle closer to development, says ReNew Mackay project director and Woollam Constructions managing director Craig Percival.
ReNew’s expression of interest emerged as the sole contender, down from an initial field of seven when Mackay Regional Council in 2020 opened the tender process.
And while physical designs of what will transform six CBD blocks are yet to be finalised, Mr Percival and ReNew Mackay director Sean Kelly are adamant it will re-enliven the city’s core.
Seafresh shed demolition
The last remnants of the former Seafresh warehouse on River St will be torn down in January in a milestone step towards developing Mackay’s waterfront.
A long-reach excavator tore down what remained of the crumbling warehouse that was slated for demolition after it partially collapsed into the Pioneer River in October 2020.
Mackay Region Mayor Greg Williamson said the council had secured all required approvals to go ahead with pulling down the old building.
“It will be a rapid demolition; all the excavators are in place now,” Cr Williamson said.
“The next step, while all this is happening, staff have been preparing a detailed design for the new public area.
Seaforth masterplan
A concept design for a new recreation hub in the Mackay region was revealed, with a swimming enclosure to be its centrepiece.
Mackay Regional Council has developed concept designs for the Seaforth Esplanade Reserve recreational hub following community consultation.
It will be used to progress the next stage of the project – the detailed design.
Earlier this month, JFP Urban Design Consultants, who worked on the initial master plan for Seaforth Esplanade, were appointed to start work on the detailed design for this project.
Mayor Greg Williamson said there was plenty of excitement surrounding the new hub.
“We want to transform Seaforth Esplanade into a vibrant and exciting space where residents and visitors to the area can spend quality time with their families,” Cr Williamson said.
“The release of the concept plan means we are one step closer to realising this vision as we progress with work on the detailed design.”
Construction was expected to start in 2022.
Northern Beaches Community Hub
Above-ground construction of the multimillion dollar Northern Beaches Community Hub is expected to begin within the next 12 months.
It comes as Mackay councillors in early December approved the master plan concepts for Stage 1A, the “town square” or “heart”, costing about $10.75 million.
It features an outdoor landscaped area with children’s play spaces and a possible climbing wall, catering to the one in four of Mackay residents aged zero to 14 living in the Northern Beaches.
Project manager Julie Nimmo said the multipurpose space which provided for a netball court was large enough to host events such as markets and gatherings through all seasons and weather.
Wildcat tours
A specially-built 17m catamaran has unlocked the heydays of Mackay tourism by offering escapes to island secrets.
Red Cat Adventures directors Asher and Julie Telford said they were ecstatic to launch their Wildcat tours from the Mackay Marina out to pristine destinations including Cockermouth, Brampton, Keswick, St Bees and Scawfell Islands.
“Guests will get to discover untouched beaches at a variety of locations to suit the winds and tides of the day,” Mrs Telford said.
“Snorkel at coral-encrusted reefs and swim with diverse marine life — all while fully catered and crewed on our newly built custom-designed catamaran.”
Tours started before Christmas, and Mr Telford said no two days aboard the fast Wildcat vessel would be the same.
Boomerang Hotel
An iconic Mackay pub is about to return to its former glory with a major $2 million overhaul.
The Boomerang Hotel has been a landmark at the junction of the Bruce Highway and Peak Downs Highway for 60 years and was the first of three railway hotels built in Mackay.
Australian Venue Company chief operating officer Craig Ellison said Mackay had “definitely earned” an update with the renovation design based on patron feedback.
Closing in October and expected to re-open in Autumn 2022, details include a new-look bistro with outdoor dining plus a new menu featuring the favourite pub classics as well as new dishes catering to a range of dietary needs.
South Mackay sporting precinct
Mackay has proven it is ready for the world stage and now we can reveal an ambitious plan for an advanced, multimillion dollar sports precinct at the city fringe.
And with an estimated $80m price tag, Mayor Greg Williamson said there was only “one real chance” to get it right.
Sarina football legend Wendell Sailor has thrown his support behind a bold plan for a sporting mecca in South Mackay describing the region as a “sleeping giant” capable of hosting bigger and better events.
This long-term goal will place Mackay as a frontrunner in securing state, national and global events that will inject millions into the economy.
With a track record that includes Elton John, KISS, multiple NRL games and a Tokyo Olympics Live site, the potential for bigger entertainment and sporting events is growing.
“With our proven ability already, if we improve the facilities, we have an ideal opportunity to host state and national events here,” Cr Williams said.
ALDI lodges plans for Mackay store
If ever a business topped Mackay’s Christmas list, it was ALDI and now the German retailer has granted that exact wish.
The retailer has lodged plans with Mackay Regional Council to build a supermarket at Andergrove Lakes in what is believed to be one of the chain’s largest stores.
It is understood ALDI hopes to have the supermarket open by the end of 2022.
The earmarked site is within the newly established Andergrove Lakes precinct on Cutler Dr to which it has frontage as well as Beaconsfield Road East and Superior Boulevard.
Chalmers the stock picker makes a bad call
The Future Fund has thrived by having the independence to make its own financial calls. The Treasurer wants to trash this with his own risky bets.
Man charged over fatal crash that killed ‘friend of 40 years’
A man who allegedly crashed into his friend of 40 years in a fatal hit-and-run told police he “didn’t realise he’d hit someone”.