Mackay Northern Beaches: Reference group’s ideas for community hub

Their feedback helps guide the $25m centre’s development. Find out what ideas they had in mind such as sensory spaces, public art, playgrounds and more >>>

Mackay Regional Council Strategic Planning manager Jaco Ackerman and Mayor Greg Williamson at the Northern Beaches Community Hub site.

Public artworks, children’s play areas and sensory gardens with barbecues are just some of the ideas proposed for the Northern Beaches Community Hub.

They come from a reference group formed to help guide the $25m development of a 3.7-hectare site between Rosewood Drive and Eimeo Road.

The group met in February and March this year to learn about the project from Mackay Regional Council and brainstorm how the centre could meet the community’s social and health needs.

“The vision for this site is to create an active place that brings the community together to eat, to play and to celebrate,” the meeting minutes stated.

The location of the proposed Northern Beaches Community Hub. Picture: Mackay Regional Council

One of the reference group’s suggestions for the hub was an outdoor area to serve as a community meeting place with “lifestyle improv(ing)” barbecues and sensory gardens.

Another was building “active” play equipment that also catered for older children with facilities such as gym equipment and open courts.

“(It would) get the kids off electronics and outside interacting with their peers,” the minutes stated.

Other ideas were a cafe for high school students to gain work experience, a men’s shed, various youth programs, rooms or venues that could be used for cultural gatherings and celebrations, public art projects such as murals and an area for a neighbourhood hub.

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It was also mentioned the centre could include rooms for visiting consultants from services such as Project Booyah and Headspace and it was suggested any parking should be covered and disability-friendly.

Deputy Mayor Karen May chaired the meetings with group members including Sian Burrows, Maighan Grant, Valeriya Edsall, Geoff Berger, David Southwood, Maria Nowela Maglente, Rae Lee Cox and Tegan Jones.

Also attending the meetings were representatives from Mackay Hospital and Health Service, North Queensland Primary Health Network and Johnstaff Consulting, other councillors and MRC staff.

Cr May thanked the attendees for their efforts with the next meetings scheduled for May 4 and July 27.

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Originally published as Mackay Northern Beaches: Reference group’s ideas for community hub