Mackay biofutures SDA: Homeowners fear land resumptions, devaluation

Landholders are worried they could suffer the same resumption nightmare that their Ring Road neighbours lived through as work steams ahead to turn Mackay into a biofutures centrepiece.

Property owners in and around upcoming state development areas in Rosella and Racecourse say they will “have nothing” if land resumptions rob them of homes or devalue their most important asset.

Canegrowers and retirees are worried they could suffer the same resumption nightmare that their Ring Road neighbours lived through as work steams ahead to revolutionise Mackay into a biofutures centrepiece.

More than 30 properties across Racecourse and Rosella are within the proposed boundaries for Queensland’s newest State Development Area which could generate “billions” in green jet fuel and turning sugar cane waste into products from milk to medicines.

But Rosella canegrowers and retirees, whose livelihoods depend on their properties, now fear the government will either take their homes or cause their values to plummet, to push ahead with its biofuture dreams.

A retired couple who have lived in Rosella for more than 25 years, who wished to stay anonymous out of fear of backlash, say they are “in limbo land”.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert, Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson, and Mackay Sugar CEO Jannik Olejas at Racecourse Mill on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, to talk about two industrial sites in Mackay being declared a State Development Area. Picture: Contributed

They alleged their house value, an asset they hoped would fund their shift into aged care living in the future, had already plunged $150,000.

“We’ve worked all our lives to have something to sell (and) with one stroke of a pen, our property is going to be worth nothing,” the wife said.

“I’m 82 now (and) to go into a home I’m going to need money. That’s what (the house) was supposed to cover.”

The proposed Rosella industrial development outline for the potential Mackay SDA. Photo: Contributed

She said other Rosella residents also risked “losing their livelihoods” and called on the government to provide fair compensation.

A fortnight after Deputy Premier Steven Miles was in Mackay to spruik the SDA, about 50 stakeholders held a meeting where concerns erupted over acquisition fears.

Rosella canegrower Tony Bartolo, who was at the meeting, said the biohub would be a huge economic boost to the region and state.

Tony Bartolo.

But he said he hoped the Coordinator General’s office would take a “balanced” approach and make “appropriate acknowledgment and compensation” to parties if and when affected.

Mr Bartolo said current plans were little more than a “mud map” with scarce zoning details, but he acknowledged Rosella had been set aside for development for about 10 years.

“I feel for the residents in the area because I know how hard it is to work under such a short time frame (for submissions) when we’re dealing with most likely the biggest asset that each of us own,” he said.

The Rosella Store on the Bruce Highway.

One property already affected by the SDA was the Rosella Store which shuttered in recent years, with Colleen Tucker telling this publication the shop would be demolished to create a turning lane to the new industrial estate.

Mackay Regional Council’s planning scheme identifies land in Rosella as an “investigation area for industrial development”, but the boundaries did not align with the proposed SDA.

A spokeswoman from the office of the Co-ordinator General said the government had only drafted boundaries and more details would be provided should the SDA proceed.

The proposed Racecourse industrial development outline for the potential Mackay SDA. Photo: Contributed

She said the office would be working closely with the council, industry stakeholders and the community, but it had no plans for compulsory acquisitions or land resumptions, adding that Economic Development Queensland already owned about 211ha in Rosella.

“The potential Mackay SDA could serve as a hub for the production of food, fuel, feed, and fibre products, value-adding by creating jobs and strengthening the local economy rather than replacing existing industries, including sugar,” the spokeswoman said.

Canegrowers Mackay chairman Kevin Borg said the vulnerability of the unknown “hit home” for Rosella residents, but he still saw great promise in the SDA.

Canegrowers Mackay chairman Kevin Borg.

Mr Borg said Canegrowers would help represent aggrieved landholders or growers with legitimate concerns, but also called for more clarity on the business model for local growers supplying the biofuel precinct.

“There’s a lot of stones to be turned (but) it's a no-brainer that we look at Mackay as a place to produce these things,” he said.

Community members are encouraged to make their submissions via the public consultation online portal before it closes on Friday, September 15.

Learn more about the SDA, including plans, here.

Originally published as Mackay biofutures SDA: Homeowners fear land resumptions, devaluation