See inside Northern Beaches Community Hub concept master plan for first time

Councillors have approved master plan concepts for a multimillion dollar hub at the Northern Beaches including a library, pool plus lots more. See what’s in store for your family.

Above-ground construction of the multimillion dollar Northern Beaches Community Hub is expected to begin within the next 12 months.

It comes as Mackay councillors on Wednesday approved the master plan concepts for Stage 1A, the “town square” or “heart”, costing about $10.75 million.

It features an outdoor landscaped area with children’s play spaces and a possible climbing wall, catering to the one in four of Mackay residents aged zero to 14 living in the Northern Beaches.

Project manager Julie Nimmo said the multipurpose space which provided for a netball court was large enough to host events such as markets and gatherings through all seasons and weather.

Planning manager Jaco Ackerman said once more funding was secured, Stage 1A would connect to Stage 1B which included a library and meeting rooms catering to youth through to seniors.

It also includes a cafe looking over the green spaces below.

“Part of the community hub is creating those different spaces where people can just hang out,” Mr Ackerman said.

Stage 1B would cost about $37 million.

Next was Stage 2 which included an $10-12m aquatic centre with a 25m pool and two consulting rooms that specialists could use for hydrotherapies and other activities.
Finally, Stage 3 is set aside for a future development.

The Northern Beaches Community Hub will include three stages including Stage 1 (outdoor space and library) outlined in red, Stage 2 with an aquatics centre and Stage 3 (numbered 10 in picture above). Picture: Mackay Regional Council

Mayor Greg Williamson said the council expected the pool to be built in about five years time with Stage 3 hopefully completed within the next decade.

The hub would be disability-friendly and link in to existing public transport networks.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the Northern Beaches Community Hub is expected to cost in excess of $50m. He is pictured with an example of what the entrance to the library might look like. Picture: Heidi Petith

Mr Ackerman said a footpath would encircle the entire lot encouraging exercise and free movement throughout the hub.

It would eventually connect to other paths in the Northern Beaches including to the shopping centres and schools.

Plans for the Northern Beaches Community Hub include outdoor play areas, a new library and a pool. Picture: Mackay Regional Council

Ms Nimmo said both Eimeo Road State School and Northern Beaches State High School principals had formed part of the community reference group informing the hub’s design.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the “significant investment” on the hub would cement the Northern Beaches as a township in its own right within the wider Mackay region.

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

Mr Williamson said the council was “really pleased” to have acquired the 3.7ha of land between Rosewood Dr and Eimeo Rd at Rural View amid the frenzy of commercial development.

Concept plans for Stage 1A of the Northern Beaches Community Hub include large covered outdoor spaces connecting to the library as part of Stage 2. Picture: Mackay Regional Council

He said the hub would also help alleviate traffic on the problematic Mackay Bucasia Rd until the infrastructure could be upgraded.

“In an ideal world, you’d want to see this (hub built) as fast as possible,” he said.

“(The Northern Beaches) is the biggest growing area in domestic housing our council footprint and the more in facilities that we can provide, the better.”

Mrs May said the council would need to contribute $4.2m for Stage 1A after the federal government pitched in $6.5m under the Community Development Grants.

Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor Karen May says the Northern Beaches Community Hub master plan was a “fantastic piece of work”. Picture: Heidi Petith

“As we know the community infrastructure in the Northern Beaches for the 20-odd thousand people that live there, you would have to say is a big light on,” she said.

“The long term vision of the master plan is to create an active space that brings the community together to learn, to play, and to celebrate and I think that really captures what’s required in the Northern Beaches.”

Dawson MP George Christensen says the Northern Beaches Community Hub would set the area up for the next generation. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Dawson MP George Christensen said he congratulated the council on its plans.

“(I) will do what I can to secure additional funding to make this a reality,” Mr Christensen said.

The fully realised hub is expected to cost upwards of $50m.

You can view the full master plan online at connectingmackay.com.au.