Mackay council adds $9.3m added in capital works spending

From an extra $800K on a playground to $700K on a road shoulder, see the full list of budget blowouts. Plus read what major projects have been put on the backburner.

More than 140 projects across Mackay have bumped up the capital works spending allocation.

A budget review has revealed an extra $9.3 million is being put towards capital works projects across the Mackay region.

The priciest adjustment is the Alsatia Park playground in Walkerston with more than $800,000 added to the project’s existing 2021-2022 financial year budget allocation.

Coming in second place is the Stage 1 widening of the Marwood-Sunnydale Rd shoulder in Balberra with an extra $780,000, followed by $600,000 for Stage 1B of the Northern Beaches Community Hub, and $500,000 for Stage 2 of the Resource Centre of Excellence in Paget.

Softening the budget blowouts are the 31 projects being deferred to the next financial year, raking $5.05 million back into the council’s coffers for capital works.

A major deferred project is $702,387 for a floating pontoon on the Pioneer River as part of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area’s Riverside Precinct.

An aerial view of the Pioneer River in Mackay, including the CBD (to the left), the Forgan Bridge, and North Mackay (to the right). Picture: Nadine Tass

Also notable are almost $600,000 for Stage 3 of the Camilleri St District Park Upgrade and $595,900 on drainage restoration works along Oak St in Andergrove.

Mackay Regional Council documents state the projects are being deferred to the 2022-2023 financial year “in line with expected delivery time frames”.

It adds the council is also forecasting an extra $507,000 overall in operating expenditure costs.

“The majority of the expenditure is associated with increases in contractors and utilities which is offset by decreased employee benefits costs due to staff vacancies and a reduction in the use of consultants,” documents state.

Staff vacancies saved the MRC $522,940 while hiring contractors cost an extra $583,546.