Eungella township’s local area planning

Share your Finch Hatton flood stories!

Mackay Regional Council is undertaking a flood study of Finch Hatton to update existing flood data and inform planning for the township.

The objectives of the flood study are:

1. understand flood behaviour in Cattle Creek within the reach that influences risk to Finch Hatton and the adjacent road crossings of Cattle Creek
2. understand stormwater/flood behaviour of the local catchments that influence risk to Finch Hatton and related infrastructure
3. map flood extents and risk for inclusion in the Mackay Region Planning Scheme Flooding and Coastal Hazard Overlay.

If you have any information on historical flooding in Finch Hatton, such as photos, rainfall records or stories, please email them to our Strategic Planning team strategic.planning@mackay.qld.gov.au by August 31, 2023.

Once the consultation period ends, council will review all the feedback and start working on a draft study report for public comment. This report is expected to be completed by early-2024.

Stage 1 under construction

Mayor Greg Williamson, councillors, and the contractors responsible for the delivery of stage one of the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project, J Mac Constructions, World Trail and Bike Tracks Australia, were onsite at the Finch Hatton Trailhead today to turn the first sod of the stage one works.

Mackay company J Mac Constructions is building the trailhead infrastructure which includes the entry statement, picnic areas with shelters, amenity blocks, bike wash and open recreational space.

Renowned trail builder, World Trail, is constructing our stage one trail network in the spectacular mountain ranges of Finch Hatton. There will be 16 trails in total measuring 13.5 kilometres. This network will be Australia’s largest cluster of airflow trails.

Bike Tracks Australia is designing and constructing the pump track at the Finch Hatton Trailhead site. The design will include many exciting features and accommodate riders of all levels.

Stage one is expected to be completed before Christmas, weather permitting.

Do you have a planning question?

Please send all planning enquiries and requests for flood information regarding your property via council's online enquiry form > https://onlineservices.mackay.qld.gov.au/ePathway/MRCEPATHWEB11/Web/Mobility/CityWatch/index.html?Module=ECRREQT&Class=&Type=DUTYP or email planningenquiries@mackay.qld.gov.au. We are here to help.

Check out the latest mountain biking update

Thank you to everyone who turned up to our community update session at the Finch Hatton Showground Hall on Thursday, May 4. The project team gave an update on the stage 1 works, which are expected to be completed before Christmas, the progress on stage 2, as well as a planning and economic development update. If you couldn't make the session, please click here to view the presentation. Should you have any questions about the presentation, please contact our community engagement officer Rebecca Batzloff on 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or email rebecca.batzloff@mackay.qld.gov.au.

Mountain Bike project marks momentous milestone

THREE separate contracts, worth a total of more than $6.25 million, have been awarded in a momentous day for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike project.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the construction contracts, awarded to three separate companies, marked a huge milestone for stage one of the signature project.

“Our Field Services crews have been onsite undertaking civil works for stage one of this project, which is exciting for the Pioneer Valley and our region in terms of tourism and being an economic driver,’’ he said.

“These three contracts will bring the Finch Hatton trailhead and the first stage of associated trails to life.”

Mayor Williamson said it was pleasing the major contract, worth more than $3.8 million for the Finch Hatton trailhead, had been awarded to Mackay company J Mac Constructions Pty Ltd.

The first contract awarded at today’s ordinary meeting was for the design and construction of 16 trails, measuring 13.5km, in stage one of the project at Finch Hatton.

This was awarded to World Trail Pty Ltd as trustee for World Trail Unit Trust, for a tendered price of $2,003,799 (excluding GST), including a provisional sum for a six-month maintenance program.

The second, for the Finch Hatton trailhead, was awarded to J Mac Constructions Pty Ltd for $3,851,928.79 (excluding GST).

The third tender awarded was for the pump track at the Finch Hatton trailhead site.

It will be built by another Mackay company TKK Service Pty Ltd, trading as Bike Tracks Australia, for $395,583.

“There has been a huge amount of community consultation done, especially with the Finch Hatton and Eungella communities, throughout planning for this project,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“Excitement is building and that will only be heightened with tenders awarded for stage one and the start of construction upon us,’’ he said.

Marketing company on board!

Council has appointed Destination Marketing Store and Swell Design Group to look after the marketing and branding of our mountain bike park.

Together, they have a wealth of experience in marketing mountain biking and destinations across Australia.

Their work will be delivered in three stages.

Stage 1: Research and insights
(Global and local travel trends, consumer audience and industry stakeholder profiles, destination analysis, naming options)

Stage 2: Consultation workshops and industry engagement
(Meetings and workshops with local residents, businesses, traditional owners, progress associations, tourism bodies and trail builders to gain local insights. Invitations will be sent out next month).

Stage 3: Brand strategy development
(Destination marketing plan and brand visual identity manual/toolkit).

This project is expected to be completed by July and will complement the signage and wayfinding package and the placemaking project that is currently under way.

Should you have any questions about these works, please contact council’s community engagement officer Rebecca Batzloff on 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or email rebecca.batzloff@mackay.qld.gov.au.

Council gives green light for stage one works

The Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike trails project has clicked up a gear!

At today's ordinary meeting, council approved a development application for stage one of the mountain bike park.

Community update #4

If you couldn't attend the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail Community Update Session on Sunday, November 13, at the Finch Hatton Showground Hall, you can see it here.

The presentation features a project update, a planning update and a business/tourism update.

Should you have any questions about the presentation, please contact our community engagement officer Rebecca Batzloff on 1300 MACKAY (622 529) or email rebecca.batzloff@mackay.qld.gov.au.

World Trail to complete surveying works!

International trail experts, World Trail, will be surveying the proposed trail network for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project over the next two weeks, weather permitting.

Two teams will be "ground truthing" the wilderness trails from Eungella to Finch Hatton and the remaining trails on the hills behind Finch Hatton.

As part of this work, they will be assessing the terrain and mapping their preferred trail alignments.

To date, World Trail have mapped 37 kilometres of our trails, and they will complete the remaining 63 kilometres over the next two weeks.

To stay up-to-date on the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project, subscribe to project update emails on the right-hand side of this page.

The Queensland Government has contributed $500,000 towards this project including the detailed design of the trailhead and environmental assessments.

Explore our epic trails at the Pioneer Valley Show!

You can check out our mountain bike trailhead site, see our newly restored Cattle Creek Mill building and learn about the exciting Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trail project at the Pioneer Valley Show. Plus - hear about local planning in the Valley.

When: Sunday, June 12, 2022 (9am to 1pm)

Where: Cattle Creek Mill building, across the road from the Finch Hatton RSL

Visit the display to go into the draw to win a mountain bike and one of two $200 bike vouchers. T&C's apply.