Structural issues force popular Mackay restaurant to shut

‘I’m just heartbroken, I’m still in shock about council’s decision’

'Don Daniels on the River' has been forced to close permanently after the deck was declared unsafe. Picture: Contributed

MACKAY'S only restaurant with a deck over the Pioneer River has been forced to permanently close because of structural issues.

Don Daniel's on the River owner Daniel Salgado said the forced decision has left him feeling "blown out of the water".

Mr Salgado said he had planned to reopen the venue in July after COVID-19 restrictions eased but the Mackay Regional Council declared the cracked deck was unsafe after discovering the pylons were rotten.

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He claimed the council then took more than four months to decide it would not "foot the bill" for repairs, forcing him to now permanently close the restaurant.

'Don Daniels on the River' owner Daniel Salgado took over the premises mid-2019. Picture: Rainee Shepperson.

"I'm just so depressed, I'm just heartbroken, I'm still in shock about council's decision," Mr Salgado said.

"They (the council) make a decision to say, 'We're not repairing it, your lease is terminated, you've got a month to move out'."

'Don Daniels on the River' has been forced to close permanently after the deck was declared unsafe. Picture: Contributed

Mr Salgado said the council bought the building in November last year following an engineer's inspection of the pylons.

"If it was privately owned, we'd be able to fix it ourselves," he said.

"Their way of dealing with it is to simply close it down - there's another business left vacant in Mackay.

"Council keeps saying they want to promote tourism when I had one of the tourist drawspots.

"Prior to me taking over, it was vacant for nearly a year.

"I've invested my life in this, my money.

"It is potentially one of the most iconic, relaxed places to have some wine and dine and have a good time.

"It was all starting to take off."

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Mr Salgado said his staff and many local musicians he had supported with weekly gigs were also in shock from the closure.

Mackay Regional Council Organisational Services director Kylie Lamb said they had terminated the lease citing public liability concerns and the deck's repair costs.

Ms Lamb said the River St address was one of two riverside precinct properties the council had recently strategically purchased for the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area.

"These two properties were included in a recent expressions of interest process for council-owned sites within the Mackay Waterfront and council is exploring options for the future of this site," Ms Lamb said.

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