Mackay council approves new social housing from St Vincent De Paul

New jobs and housing are coming to Mackay as council approves new development and support for St Vincent De Paul, promising to alleviate the housing shortage and care for vulnerable residents. SEE THE PLANS.

A six unit social housing development is coming to Juliet St in Mackay, brought to you by St Vinnie’s.

New homes and jobs are coming to the Mackay CBD as St Vincent De Paul receives the go ahead from council to break ground on a new social housing and community hub.

The St Vincent de Paul Society of Queensland’s plan to develop six units at 14 Juliet St, Mackay was approved on March 13, 2025 and put to council on March 26.

Development documents submitted to council reveal the construction will create three one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units in a two-storey development.

One of the units will be designated a specialist disability accommodation unit.

The development will replace the existing St Vincent De Paul care centre, which will be demolished and replaced with a new community service space for the new units.

Orange Sky Laundry also uses the centre at 14 Juliet St and will be relocating across the street.

Construction is estimated to cost $3.5m and documents submitted to council said St Vincent De Paul would engage local contractors and suppliers for the development.

It is estimated construction will generate four direct and 10 indirect full-time jobs during construction as well as create a total economic impact of $7.2m for the region.

Council officers was recommended councillors approve concessions of $147,654 to the development’s infrastructure charges and a reduction of 50 per cent for water and sewer connection fees on the condition the houses be built and in use by March 26, 2027.

The new development will have three one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units.

Councillor Belinda Hassan spoke in favour of the concessions and said “any development that is around accommodation and support services for our community is proof of their application and the fact that it meets the requirements of the policies”.

The new homes will be built and in use by March 2027.

The motion was approved unanimously and St Vincent De Paul regional president for Mackay Richard Calligan said he was pleased to take advantage of what council was offering.

The new complex will replace the pre-existing community centre, which will be demolished.

He said providing accommodation was the primary objective and it was in line with the St Vinnie’s mission to bring about a more just and compassionate society.

“That practical care for those in need,” Mr Calligan said.

Also on the docket for council was a request for concessions on the St Vincent De Paul residential care facility at Wellington St.

The facility, open and operational since December 2024, is capable of housing 20 people in its five room houses.

Documents submitted to council said the facility provided supervised accommodation, medical and other support services for vulnerable persons and residents were able to stay overnight or for a maximum of 12 weeks.

St Vincent De Paul applied for concessions to their infrastructure charges of $136,626 after the development was completed and council officers recommended council reject this request.

Councillor Belinda Hassan spoke in favour of granting concessions to St Vincent De Paul’s residential care facility on Wellington St. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Councillor Hassan said the concessions would have been approved if the application was submitted on time and proposed an alternative motion retroactively approving the concessions.

“It’s the only service of its kind in our region … before the service was officially open it only had eight residents,” Ms Hassan said.

“Speaking to them last week, now that the service is operational and fully staffed, they have 15 residents there they’re assisting.”

Ms Hassan said they were all aware of issues facing the community related to homelessness, drugs, alcohol and crime and said “to just be able to house 15 residents in that facility right now … is significant”.

Ms Hassan’s motion was accepted and carried unanimously.