Mackay council offers $2m to renovate 8 River St, Maria’s Donkey

The once popular eatery over one of Qld’s blue rivers was declared structurally unsafe and shut down in 2020. See the new photos revealing the ‘significant deterioration’.

Damage to the property at 8 River Street along the Pioneer River in Mackay. Picture: Documents supplied to Mackay Regional Council

There is an offer of $2 million on the table for a contractor to refurbish the structurally unsafe building formerly home to Don Daniels on the River and Maria’s Donkey.

Mackay’s only restaurant with a deck over the Pioneer River has been permanently shut since late 2020 when Mackay Regional Council declared the cracked deck was unsafe after discovering rotten pylons.

Two years on, new photos from AECOM Australia’s investigation of almost one-third of the piles and decking components show the extent of the damage to the 8 River St property.

“The age of the structure is unknown, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it is more than 60 years old,” AECOM states.

Its study reveals the northeastern corner of the deck has no support and timber is rotted; “some steel brackets have completely corroded away”; there is “significant deterioration of steelwork and timbers”; “severe cracking in concrete casing; and several deck planks show “severe deterioration and require monitoring”.

Damage to the property at 8 River Street along the Pioneer River in Mackay. Picture: Documents supplied to Mackay Regional Council

Damage to the property at 8 River Street along the Pioneer River in Mackay. Picture: Documents supplied to Mackay Regional Council

The document submitted to Mackay Regional Council states “several piles have significant rotting in the areas in the tidal zone” requiring either replacement or extensive and targeted repairs.

The successful contractor will need to demolish and remove old decking to the north of the building, and fix or remove the deck structure on the left side.

8 River Street along the Pioneer River in Mackay. Picture: Documents supplied to Mackay Regional Council

Damage to the property at 8 River Street along the Pioneer River in Mackay. Picture: Documents supplied to Mackay Regional Council

The project also requires remedial works to the existing barge structure, and the removal of skillion steel roofing – with repairs needing to give the multi-use hospitality property a minimum lifespan of 25 years.

Tendering documents state the contractor can use recycled timber salvaged from the demolished Seafresh Warehouse towards truss remediation works, and there are considerations for a beer garden to be “incorporated in the design”.

The project, jointly funded by MRC and the federal government, is the third major piece of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area, following the redevelopment of Queens Park and the Riverside Revitalisation.

Tenders closed on February 7.