Mackay election commitments from Labor, LNP aren’t up to scratch say Scott Owen, Adrian Young

Days out from early election voting, key business and community leaders have held crisis talks . They reckon we’re being “stiffed”. FIND OUT WHY.

After weeks of campaigning and commitments from both major parties, a group of regional leaders have come together, fearing Mackay is missing out.

A number of Mackay business owners, industrial professionals and community leaders met at Harrup Park to discuss the lack of confidence in what’s coming over the next four years.

Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) CEO Steven Boxall said he organised the meeting because he was losing sleep over the election.

Masterminded by Resources Centre of Excellence CEO Steven Boxall, the meeting served for community leaders to determine what exactly Mackay had been promised and what it was missing. Photo: Fergus Gregg

“My questions to myself is ‘are we going to lose more than we gain?” Mr Boxall asked the room.

“I am losing sleep that Mackay will miss out again.”

Mr Boxall has been the beneficiary of a $5m commitment from Labor to fund stage two of development at the RCOE, which the LNP has avoided matching.

Opposition leader David Crisafulli, when asked about the RCOE, stressed the LNP’s $2.5m commitment to Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy which provides students with pathways into the resources industry.

“We are looking forward to working with the centre as well as the council to ensure it continues to grow and expand as an important part of the region,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“We do see that value in working with them in the future.”

Harrup Park CEO Adrian Young said Mackay was getting stiffed when it came to funding for sports facilities. Photo: Fergus Gregg

However, Mr Boxall’s concerns were echoed by Harrup Park CEO Adrian Young whose advocacy for stage two of development for the Great Barrier Reef Arena had fallen on deaf ears during the state election period.

“When you compare Cairns down to Rocky and Mackay … there’s no other way to put it than Mackay is being stiffed,” Mr Young said.

Mackay council CEO Scott Owen said with a week left before early voting began, Mackay had received little in the way of funding or major announcements.

“We’ve had one announcement around Golf Links Road,” Mr Owen said in reference to the LNPs $20m commitment to easing congestion on the Mackay-Bucasia Rd.

“$20m that’s probably missing a zero, what are we going to do with that seriously?”
Mr Owen also expressed concern the average Mackay resident would expect the issue of the Mackay-Bucasia Rd to be solved using the $20m commitment.

“Do you know what that’s going to get us overall? … that’s nothing,” Mr Owen said.

Kayleigh Brewster Australian Street Aid Project CEO and Scott Owen MRC CEO both attended the meeting. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Mr Owen said unless there was “something big planned” Mackay was “staring down the barrel of nothing” ahead of the election.

Mr Owen later said that $20m was a fantastic starting point and that it’s the only commitment received to date for council, which is currently advocating for a number of critical projects for the region.

Kayleigh Brewster from the Australian Street Aid Project and Carol Norris from Greater Whitsundays Communities both warned Mackay’s social issues were worsening.

Ms Brewster said homelessness in Mackay and Australia had skyrocketed and services like hers played a vital role in reducing crime.

“There’s 80 less people each day who have to steal food,” Ms Brewster said.

“In regards to value for money, we do quite a lot for our region.”

Kayleigh Brewster and Carol Norris both spoke about the regions challenges receiving support to combat social issues like homelessness. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Ms Norris, who’s organisation Greater Whitsunday Communities works in homelessness prevention, said she was better received by the LNP in contrast to Labor.

“All the funding is going to reactive programs,” Ms Norris said.

“From a state government perspective, we’ve had the door slammed in our face.”

Mackay Airport director Adrian Miles also stressed the need for expanded aeromedical capacity and freight terminal facilities at the Mackay Airport.

“We get 2000 aeromedical movements through the airport each year,” Mr Miles said.

“You never want to have to use it but it is such a critical and essential service.”

Mr Miles also identified airfreight as a key to facilitating growth in Mackay’s emerging industries and said he was advocating for a common use freight facility be constructed at the airport with an aeromedical facility attached.
Steven Boxall said ultimately, he wanted candidates to listen and understand the region’s needs beyond cost-of-living, crime and health.

“They’re givens of government that should be provided to all communities,” he said.

“We don’t want to continue to just try and make everything happen ourselves.”