Frozen in time vacant building could house Mackay's homeless

A SOLUTION to Mackay's rough sleepers may have been under our noses all along.

Developer Mark McGrath at the 46-bedroom old Aurizon and Queensland Rail accommodation at 16 Boddington St, Mackay. Picture: Navarone Farrell

BEDS, linen, even right down to the telly, a stocked and feasible option for crisis accommodation is on the market, but no one is buying.

No. 16 Boddington St has been empty for several years now since Aurizon offloaded it as their staff accommodation and prior to that it was used to house Queensland Rail workers since the 70s.

The beds are still there, the linen is stacked neatly in the closets and the tellies turn on with a button press, yet it's gone unnoticed by those who can make the best use of the 46-bed accommodation complex.

It's vacancy and the lack of interest from key parties is boggling developer Mark McGrath.

"I think its highest and best use is for community needs like either crisis accommodation or anything to do with that,” he said.

"The charities either funded by the Catholic Church or the Anglican Church, or the Salvation Army haven't bought it.

"All I can think is if their decision making boards were based in Mackay there would be more scope to invest here.”

Mr McGrath believes that a little common sense and more perspective on Mackay's current homeless problems, around 600 according to the latest ABS data, would result in people warm and safe at night.

"I know the charities have limited resources,” he said, "Any time Mackay makes it into the media is only when there's huge social need. Crisis accommodation or mental health services or anything like that it's always a negative story.”

One of 46 available beds at 16 Boddington St, Mackay. Picture: Navarone Farrell

"The major charities really should look at that sort of building and for the right price they can take it and accommodate it tonight.”

Regional president of the St Vincent de Paul Society Frank Gilbert believes that the site is more than suitable for crisis accommodation, close to amenity, and speculated that fit out or lack of capital may be at the fore for charities.

"I'd definitely say there's a demand there, probably what's lacking is the wherewithal to buy it and renovate it to a suitable standard to accommodate people,” he said.

"The reason why charities aren't snapping up his property is because of lack of capital to actually purchase properties. I'd say every charity wouldn't be flush with funds.

"There's plenty of demand out there. What we have been noticing, and we haven't got statistics on it, just anecdotally with the people we help it is older women who are left on their own, they're finding it difficult to find accommodation and that there's a growing need for that in the city.”

Mr Gilbert said that their local housing group had looked at the property but there had been no movement.

"We have a number of ex-hotels and houses for people who are homeless and at risk of homelessness,” he said.

"That's changed over the years we've been involved, there was a huge amount of need during the mining boom when people came here looking for work but with not much personal resource.

"They were living out of cars and prices in the rental market were very high at that time.

"Poor people couldn't afford to get accommodated but there is always a need for low-cost, good quality accommodation for people to use.”

The 46-bedroom building has two storeys, three kitchens, four dining areas, two recreational areas and outdoor space, as well six shower and toilet facilities and two laundries.

Council have previously looked at the building for crisis accommodation for sufferers of domestic violence.

The property is on the market through Ray White, Mackay as an expressions of interest campaign, somewhere north of $800,000.

Originally published as Frozen in time vacant building could house Mackay's homeless