Plans approved: New shopping hub, residential lots for Blacks Beach

A developer’s decade long bid to build a shopping centre, vet and pharmacy in Mackay’s Northern Beaches has finally been approved by council.

Crossroad Developments plan to build residential lots, a shopping centre, vet clinic and pharmacy on vacant land in Blacks Beach.

A Brisbane developer has been given council’s tick of approval to build a shopping precinct in Mackay’s Northern Beaches after more than 13 years since first proposals were refused by a court.

Crossroads Developments plans to build residential lots, a shopping centre, vet clinic and pharmacy on vacant land in Blacks Beach, next door to the Black’s Beach Tavern.

The empty block has been the site of several failed development proposals after the Planning and Environment Court refused the shopping centre in 2011, which were lodged at the time by Hawkhaven.

Plans have been revealed for the upcoming shopping precinct with a gym, pharmacy and shopping centre.

The decision was in favour of a competing proposal from the developer that built the Blacks Beach Cove housing estate.

But after 13 years, and with BBC failing to deliver their plans for the project despite a four-year extension in 2016, the Mackay Regional Council approved Crossroad Developments’ plans in September.

Crossroads Developments managing director Liberte Guthrie said getting an approval and seeing progress was “always a great feeling”.

Crossroad Developments’ proposed residential development in Blacks Beach.

“The original concept prior to us owning the site was purely retail focused, but the development approval over this site now incorporates residential lots, a childcare centre, a small retail, food, beverage outlet and essential services like medical and a vet, which reflects the growth and needs of the Blacks Beach area,” Ms Guthrie said.

Residents can expect 16 new residential blocks – ranging from 600sqm to 772sqm – plus a shopping precinct with possible health care services, a pharmacy, veterinary practice, gym and two food and drink outlets.

“Our vision has been to create a community hub that offers convenience, supports working families and provides everyday services close to home,” she said.

Leasing arrangements and budgeting is yet to be finalised for the site.

The site is located adjacent to the Blacks Beach Tavern on Blacks Beach Rd.

In a letter to council, Crossroads Developments said that due to developments taking substantially longer and the price of construction increasing, the company was unable to develop the full site alone and would “need to sell off parts” so they can complete the remaining stages themselves.

A 2023 market assessment found that the area faced a significant undersupply of convenience retail floorspace of 9960sqm.

The population of the area, which includes Eimeo, Blacks Beach and Dolphin Heads, was expected to grow by 945 to 8910 by 2030, with households within that radius earning a significantly higher average annual income at $152,331, compared to the Mackay region’s average of $129,601.

Also, given more than a third of households was comprised of couples with children and there was a 76.3 per cent labour force participation, many “may be time poor”, driving demand for convenience food, the developers said.