Riverside Hospital gets green light for go ahead in West Mackay

After years of setbacks, the Riverside Private Hospital project in West Mackay has received first approvals from council with several conditions. SEE THE PLANS.

In their second application, Short Stays Private Hospitals have applied to build a new hospital and 16 units across the road from the Mackay Base Hospital.

After rejection three years ago, the proposed development of a new private hospital in West Mackay is moving forward.

The Riverside Private Hospital development received conditional approval from Mackay Regional Council officers on March 14, 2025 in the latest push to get the project off the ground.

The proposal, the third in 14 years to build a new private hospital across the street from the Mackay Base Hospital, aims to transform 476 Bridge Rd, West Mackay into a four-storey medical centre and create 16 units for housing in two stages.

The first stage will involve the construction of the new hospital building, delivering five operating theatre, 60 beds — including six intensive care rooms — and six consulting suites.

The new development will be four storeys, down from a previous and slightly bigger proposal in 2022.

Additionally, three health care tenancies will be opened on the ground floor for medical imaging, pathology or pharmacy uses and a cafe will be built.

Over 100 staff of the Mackay Base Hospital, directly opposite 476 Bridge St, have been reported to use the vacant plot, where the hospital will be built, for parking.

Existing apartments at Sarah St will also have their common space reduced and units five and six at 1 Sarah St will be demolished.

Council have required developers Holistic Property Group demolish these buildings as part of development and advised the developers this will likely require a separate development permit for demolition.

In their second application, Holistic Property Group have the greenlight to build a new private hospital across the road from the Mackay Base Hospital/

The community gardens, located just west of the development will share a driveway with Riverside Hospital and it s understood no public parking will be available for that space.

Stage two will involve the construction of a 16 single-bedroom unit housing development, with some units intended for sale while the hospital operators will retain others for use by staff.

The 16 proposed units will be used by the hospital operators to offer accomodation for staff.

Each unit will have an enclosed garage for parking and four visitor car parks will be provided.

Council approval comes with several conditions before Holistic Property Group can commence development, such as the submission of an amended site plan.

The new plan must incorporate an easement for overhead power lines and the relocation of the medical gas supply, PMT, generator and above groundwater infrastructure from the overhead powerline corridor.

Concept art submitted with the 2024 application showed these units behind the new development on Sarah St.

They must also create a 10m clearance zone around electricity poles.

Other conditions include upgrading the existing water main on Streeter Ave, provide a sewer extension to service the development, extend Sarah St and create a 1.5m wide footpath on the Western side of Sarah St as well as a t-head turnaround at the northern end of the street.

Council will also require the developers to construct a 2m high fence around the property, the installation of bicycle parking facilities for at least four bikes and provide a minimum of 146 car parking spaces.

The new development will stretch across 476 Bridge Road, demolish two units at 1 Sarah Street and reduced the common space for other units at Sarah St in West Mackay.

Holistic Property Group also have to upgrade the intersection at Hume St and Street Ave, as well as the Sarah St and Streeter Ave intersection to create new turning lanes and widen the pavement.

When the new proposal was lodged in 2024 hospital operator Short Stay Private Hospitals’ Director Leith MacMillan said the development will increase the diversity of healthcare providers in Mackay.

“We know that Mackay has increasingly become a destination for many in rural areas looking for medical treatment,” Ms MacMillan said.

She added the project aimed to attract new talent to the region.

Holistic Property Group have been contacted for comment.