North Wall Beach to be upgraded with sealed car park, showers, turtle-friendly lighting

Mackay’s surfing beach is about to get a major makeover adding showers, a sealed car park and even turtle-friendly lighting. SEE THE PLANS

North Wall Beach, Mackay, taken on November 8, 2024. The beach has $2m worth of planned upgrades coming. Picture: Paul Brescia

Mackay’s only surfing beach is about to get a major makeover — adding amenities, a sealed a car park and even turtle-friendly lighting.

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, which manages Port of Mackay and the neighbouring North Wall beach, first previewed the plans at a Resource Industry Network meeting in Harrup Park.

The work will include a sealed car park/overflow area, amenities block with showers, shade, seating, turtle-friendly lighting, native plants in a landscaping upgrade, footpaths, and educational signage from traditional owners, and the Mackay and District Turtle Watch group.

North Wall Recreational Area planned upgrades by North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation. North Wall is one of Mackay's only surf-friendly beaches. Picture: Supplied

CEO Brendan Webb said the $2m spend was a way for the company to give back to the community.

“At the moment, it’s just a bit of a dirt road car park. We’ll add native plants and make it nice and shady,” Mr Webb said.

North Wall beach in Mackay is connected to Lamberts Beach, Slade Point, and adjacent to the Port of Mackay. Picture: Supplied

Construction is scheduled to start in early 2025, and potentially be wrapped up by mid-year.

That’s not the only planned change for the port operators, which also run the Weipa, Abbott Point, and Hay Point ports.

The beach has a basic gravel car park. Picture: Paul Brescia

A $60m expansion is being considered in Mackay’s Wharf One, which would allow the port to bring in trailers even 65 metres or more.

“It’s also about heavy, wide, and long — what the department calls oversized and overmass,” Mr Webb said.

“We’ve always supported the big gear for mining.”