Mackay council considers new homes, child care, and dog park

Mackay council will decide whether a beachside community will score a new dog park at its monthly meeting on Wednesday. SEE THE PREVIEW.

Mackay council considers Jake St Early Learning Centre, housing development, Slade Point dog park.

The Mackay regional council September ordinary meeting will review applications by developers for discounts on a childcare and housing development and determined whether or not Slade Point will receive a dog park.

12 New Units – East Mackay

New units could be open to renters as early as 2026 in East Mackay if a 12 unit development on Willoughby Crescent goes ahead.

Vacant for more than a decade, developers have tried to build units and even shops on the plot since 2010.

12 one-storey, two-bedroom units are coming to East Mackay and will be available by 2026.

The latest application comes from Faye Phillips Investments which has an approved development permit to build 12 one-storey, two-bedroom units at four and six Willoughby Crescent.

The units will cost approximately $3.9m to build.

Each unit will be single story and fully self-contained, including an open kitchen, dining and living room, garage, main bathroom, separate ensuite and laundry.

The development will cost approximately $3.9m and will create 14 full time jobs during construction.

Council estimates the development will have a total economic impact to the region of $8m.

4 and 6 Willoughby Crescent have been vacant for years, with other developers applying to use the land with little follow through.

Located just minutes away from Queens Park and the CBD it is believed the development has the potential to encourage further development in central Mackay.
Faye Phillips Investments has asked to be exempt from the estimated $198,632 it is required to pay in infrastructure fees and to receive a discount to water and sewer service connection fees.

It has been recommended to council these discounts be applied with the condition development be completed prior to September 25, 2026.

A year after its first proposal, construction on the Jake Street Early Learning Centre is set to commence.

Jake Street Early Learning Centre – Ooralea

Construction could soon begin on a new child care centre in Ooralea, first proposed in July 2023.

Ooralea Farming is aiming to transform a plot of canefield in Ooralea into a large-scale 120-child facility.

The child care centre will have a capacity of 120 children.

The proposed development at 23 – 25 Schmidtkes Rd, Ooralea, will include 8 x activity rooms, 1 x cot room for up to 8 children, 2 x outdoor play areas, staffroom and kitchen, multiple toilet amenities, multiple prep areas and various storage areas.

Development is scheduled to commence later this year with the centre open by late 2025 and will cost approximately $5m.

The completed child care centre will create and support 19 full time jobs including educators, support staff, administrators and maintenance personnel.

The site on Schmidtkes Rd is close to CQU, Paget and the residential area of Ooralea.

Ooralea Farming has requested a 75 per cent concession to their infrastructure charges — estimated at $104,633 — prior to construction commencing.

It is also requested a reduction in water and sewer connection fees.

It has been recommended to council these discounts be applied on the condition the development be completed and in use before September 25, 2026.

A new fenced dog park will be coming to Slade Point near Wren St Oval Park.

Slade Point dog park

After receiving a petition from Slade Point residents in October 2023 asking for a new dog park council has found a potential location.

Four locations were identified for the new park including: the stretch of beach accessible from Swallow Street Park, Lamberts Beach Lookout Park, Cumberland Park and Wren Street Oval Park and adjoining Swift Street Reserve were proposed as potential locations.

After consideration, council has proposed developing a fully fenced dog park in the cleared portion of Swift Street Reserve near Wren St Oval Park.

The estimated cost of building the park and connecting it to the water supply is $150,000 and, as of writing, no discussion or consultation has been undertaken with adjacent property owners.

It has been recommended council support the petition and allocate funds for its construction in the 2025/2026 budget.

Originally published as Mackay council considers new homes, child care, and dog park