A 120-bed aged care facility in the pipeline for Mackay

Aged care facilities are next in line for discounting under the Facilitating Development program

More aged care facilities are planned for Mackay. Picture: Patrick Gorbunovs

A 120-BED aged care facility is the latest project that could benefit from a program created to promote development in Mackay.

The West Mackay facility is one of four developments Mackay Regional Council will consider under its Facilitating Development fund at a meeting on Wednesday.

It could receive a $1.5million reduction in development fees.

The council is also considering a reduction of about $150,000 in fees for a new gym and indoor sports centre at Mt Pleasant, a $60,000 concession for expansion at Wongabeena Aged Housing Sarina, and about $3,200,000 in development concessions for an aged care facility, shopping centre and motel on Malcomson St.

According to a council report, the aged care facility, in Lagoons Estate in West Mackay, will provide economic activity of about $64.5million, including $30million for its development, and create 165 jobs.

"This development is one of three in different regional centres that the developer is progressing and additional incentives may push the Mackay project in front of the other two regional centres, leading to a significant and needed project coming to market in the immediate future,” the report stated.

"On this basis council may want to consider additional incentives to encourage the developer to progress this project before their other two regional projects, which also have the benefit of Federal Government approval.”

Ozcare, a branch of St Vincent de Paul Society, wants to build the aged care facility in Mackay.

According to the company's website, Ozcare has three facilities on the Gold Coast, two in Brisbane, two on the Sunshine Coast, one in Townsville and two in far north Queensland.

Ozcare also provides home care, dementia care, NDIS services and respite care.

Economic development and planning chairwoman Amanda Camm said she was pleased with the success of the Facilitating Development fund.

"I think the agenda coming before the council this month demonstrates that there is a lot of interest in the region, particularly from developers,” Cr Camm said.

"I've think we have worked hard to engage developers and let industry know that Mackay is open for business.”

Cr Camm said she was not concerned that discounting would put pressure on infrastructure or ratepayers.

"I'm not concerned, because any recommendation that comes before us has been stringently modelled (across all departments),” she said.

"All the discounts go through due diligence.

"We have the infrastructure in place.”

Originally published as A 120-bed aged care facility in the pipeline for Mackay