Mackay’s 2032 Brisbane Olympics planning begins

A former Olympian says Mackay could easily stand out from other regional centres vying for selection as a training destination with a few strategic moves.

From fully synthetic fields to a multi-use high performance centre, there were no shortage of ideas raised at Mackay’s 2032 Olympic Planning Summit.

One thing was consistent across the board, a collaborative approach must take place to ensure the region is positioned to be as involved as it can be in the lead up to and during the Brisbane Olympics.

Mackay Regional Council’s planning night was also about capitalising on improved infrastructure and resources to benefit the community for many years to come.

Mackay has proven it is ready for the world stage and last year unveiled an ambitious plan for an advanced, multimillion dollar sports precinct at the city fringe.

And with an estimated $80m price tag, Mayor Greg Williamson said there was only “one real chance” to get it right.

Sarina football legend Wendell Sailor threw his support behind a bold plan for a sporting mecca in South Mackay describing the region as a “sleeping giant” capable of hosting bigger and better events.

Former Olympian and current member of the Australian Olympic Committee Mark Stockwell pleaded with the audience to recognise the opportunity the Olympics presents.

He said there were easy things Mackay and Whitsundays could do to separate itself from other regional centres, who would be the competition, to share in $10 billion from the 2032 games.

Australian Olympic Committee member Mark Stockwell wants Mackay to make the most out of the 2032 Olympics and have a plan to secure infrastructure projects. Picture: Tara Croser

“You look at rock climbing and all of the rock climbing facilities there are around the country … not one of them is built to Olympic standard,” Mr Stockwell said.

“If you look at swimming pools, so often swimming pools are designed a metre deep one end and going to two metres at the other end. All of a sudden you can’t have water polo, you can’t have synchronised swimming or diving.

“I spoke to Greg (Williamson) and said ‘have you thought about all of these things?’.”

Councillors Michelle Green, Belinda Hassan and Justin Englert spoke about the projects the council is already working on, including upgrades to BB Print Stadium and the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail.

RDA Greater Whitsundays CEO Robert Cocco said the focus should not solely be on the straightforward impact of sport, but also on everything sport helped circulate.

“One of the things I want people to think about is not just sport from an athletic perspective but actually just a key economic driver and economic industry in itself within the region,” Mr Cocco said.

“In addition to that, sport plays a critical role around social fabric in most of our communities, particularly in the more remote areas of our region.

“By actually having infrastructure and facilities, thinking about how those facilities cannot only support athletes, but actually help create the next generation of specialists in sports health and sports medicine for instance.”

Mackay Regional Council 2032 Olympics Planning Summit. RDA Greater Whitsundays CEO Robert Cocco. Picture: Max O'Driscoll.

Harrup Park Country Club general manager Adrian Young presented his vision for the Great Barrier Reef Arena and how it would play a role in bringing Olympic level facilities and Olympic level athletes to Mackay.

He also said it was important those involved with other key projects across the region collaborated with one another.

“Our growing regional population and central Queensland location sees Mackay ideally placed to become a vital regional centre for community sports, education and training from grassroots to elite, for people of all abilities,” Mr Young said.

Football Queensland’s new zone manager for the Whitsunday Coast region Dan Khoury said in his short time in Mackay it was already apparent that it needed facilities that could withstand the wet conditions.

He said the trouble was not the wet weather but the lingering impact of the water on grounds which often remained unplayable, multiple days after the rain had stopped.

He proposed bringing in two full-sized synthetic fields that were less affected when it rained and yet still at a world-class standard.

Mackay Regional Council 2032 Olympics Planning Summit. Zone manager for Football Queensland and Whitsunday Coast region Dan Khoury. Picture: Max O'Driscoll.

The Mackay Sailing Club has to jump through hoops and apply for permits simply to get on the water.

The club would like the council to make attempts to work with the private owners of the water to come to a more reasonable arrangement.

Members also believe small steps could be taken to make the club more accessible to help them entice more people with disabilities to get involved with the sport.

Mackay Rowing Club treasurer Tony Lloyd has already met with Olympic officials in the sport.

He said to secure Olympic funding, it had to be sustainable and have a strong business case.

“A lot of people here are thinking that it’s an open chequebook but it has to be something that has sustainability,” Mr Lloyd said.

“The Olympic Committee is looking at what is already in place and how can they boost it without building new facilities.”

Mr Lloyd believes the club would be well positioned to host a participating nation.

“The benefit for us is that Mackay ends up with a high performance centre but we also become involved in the Olympics, and I think that is what a lot of people in Mackay would like to see,” he said.

On Wednesday after the event, Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said the evening was about creating legacies and building pathways for young people who want to become Olympians in 2032.

“Not just infrastructure wise but the ability of our community to embrace the 52 sports, if that’s what we need to do, of future Olympics and get ourselves to the Olympics in 2032 with Mackay being heavily involved, not left behind,” he said.

“And maybe build something in Mackay that can attract overseas teams to come and acclimatise here, not just in the Olympic year but leading up to it, there’s a lot of opportunity.”

Mr Williamson said a mayor’s taskforce was being formed to collate everything that came out of the summit to propel Mackay into the Olympic limelight.