Mackay’s Dune Harbour Beach estate snags local buyers

Only 10 sites remain as Mackay locals snap up the opportunity for seaside living at the harbour. But four-wheel drive enthusiasts may be left disappointed and here’s why.

Dunes Harbour Beach project director David Argent, Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson, Dunes Harbour Beach sales consultant Leigh Martin and Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert at the Dunes Harbour Beach estate official opening, August 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Locals have snapped up more than 80 per cent of the blocks at the Dunes Harbour Beach estate.

Sales of the land opened up earlier this year with Shoal Point resident Henry Fatiaki one of the first to lock in a future at the seaside estate.

Dunes Harbour Beach project manager David Argent said only 10 blocks remained of the 59 that went onto the market, bought entirely by people who intended on living at the estate.

Mr Argent said the cheapest block of land went for $180,000 with 700 sqm blocks of land selling in the low $200,000s.

Plans for “land and building” packages are also coming to fruition, with seven two-storey four-bedroom terraces in the works expected to range between $800,000 to $900,000.

Dunes Harbour Beach project director David Argent at the Dunes Harbour Beach estate official opening in August, 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Mr Argent said further development in the area would be necessary to ensure the well-being of turtles, which would mean a likely closure of the popular four-wheel driving road on the foreshore.

“We’ve been working with a number of the local environment groups, particularly the Mackay and District Turtle Watch group,” Mr Argent said.

“The relationship the site has with the foreshore area and protection of the turtles is important.

“We’ve integrated a number of covenant considerations into the development of the housing and the commercial precinct, notwithstanding the other considerations that have gone into the development to get to this point.”

Dunes Harbour Beach estate view, August 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

Mr Argent said the covenant would ensure residents and future developers alike would take into account a design criteria which would take into account wildlife preservation.

Some of the design features include a limitation of corridors down to the beach and the closure of the beach foreshore road which would bring traffic through dedicated roadworks and away from the dune system.

Mr Argent said these measures would alleviate the pressure the turtles were experiencing and would allow for regeneration of the dunes.

But before going ahead with the road closure, Mr Argent said there would be a process of community consultation.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said developers had treated the beach front ‘very respectfully’ and were opening the door to a new kind of living opportunity in the Mackay.

Beach walkway at the Dunes Harbour Beach in August 2021. Picture: Lillian Watkins

“We have 32 beaches in the region so we have a plenty of opportunities to interact with the ocean, but very limited chances to actually live there and play in a commercial environment,” Cr Williamson said.

He said about 380 blocks would be rolled out across the development in coming years.

“It’s very, very difficult to get housing in Mackay at the moment,” Cr Williamson said.

“We’ve gone from 340 housing approvals last financial year to almost 600 this financial year.

“[The development] has been done very, very well.”