Finch Hatton MTB

Audit of tourist attractions in the Pioneer Valley!

In preparation for the opening of our Finch Hatton mountain bike trails project, council’s Economic Development team is completing an audit of tourism experiences in the Pioneer Valley to promote to our future visitors.

If you can think of any walks, tracks and trails that have potential to become a tourist attraction with a few tweaks (signage or maintenance) or any activities, adventure, leisure, arts and craft, or food trails, that are happening now or about to be launched, please send your feedback to council’s Senior Economic Development Officer Nele Hahne at nele.hahne@mackay.qld.gov.au or call (07) 4961 9104 by Monday, August 21.

Intersection works on Mackay-Eungella Road!

For the next eight weeks, council will be completing intersection works on Mackay-Eungella Road for the Finch Hatton Trailhead site.

As a result, temporary traffic lights will be in place to direct the single lane traffic through the work area.

Motorists are encouraged to follow all roadside signage in place.

Should you have any questions about these works, please contact the site supervisor, Aaron Barnes on 0484 518 439.

Come and hear about a new project that will improve internet connection in the Pioneer Valley by at least 10-fold!

The Australian Government has provided $5.4 million in funding under round two of the Regional Connectivity Program (RCP) to the Queensland Government-owned company QCN, to connect high-capacity broadband to the towns west of Mackay. QCN has also contributed $600,000 towards the project.

The funding allows QCN, in partnership with their delivery partner, Channel Wireless, to deliver a fixed wireless solution with fibre backhaul to the towns of Eungella, Finch Hatton, Gargett, Pinnacle and the areas surrounding Marian and Mirani. This will enable the communities access to high-speed internet, comparable to city speeds, from their home, business and anywhere else in the town.

QCN will hold two community drop-in information sessions in mid-August with construction forecast to commence in October 2023.

The community information sessions:

Session 1:
Monday, August 14 - Eungella Hub, 4pm to 7pm

Session 2:
Tuesday, August 15 - Finch Hatton RSL Hall, 4pm to 7pm

No registration is required. Please drop-in during the allocated timeframe.

For further information about this project visit - QCN Mackay regional connectivity project | Connecting Mackay

This project is being delivered by QCN in partnership with Channel Wireless.

Greening our trail site!

Thank you to all the school students, contractors, council staff and community members who braved the weather on Friday and helped plant tress at the Finch Hatton trail site.

Over three thousand trees were planted in the top paddocks of Letchford Street in Finch Hatton to help revegetate the old sugar cane paddock for the mountain bike trails project.

The trees planted were propagated by council’s Natural Environment Centre and are native species to the area.

Contractor Ranges to Reef Environmental Services will be maintaining the trees for the next 12 months.

Reminder > we are planting trees this Friday!

Council will be planting 4,500 trees on the top paddock of Letchford Street in Finch Hatton this Friday (July 28) to help revegetate the site for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project.

If you would like to lend a hand and plant some trees, please register via council’s Eventbrite page – Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails National Tree Planting Day Tickets, Fri 28/07/2023 at 9:00 am | Eventbrite

The details are as follows:
Date: Friday, July 28
Time: 10am to 1.30pm
Location: Top paddock of Letchford Street, Finch Hatton
Parking is available on Letchford and Cook streets.
Please wear closed-in shoes, sun safe clothing, bring a hat, water bottle and gloves.

Join us for a tree planting day!

On Friday, July 28 (National Tree Day), council will be planting 4,500 trees on the top paddock of Letchford Street in Finch Hatton to help revegetate the site for the Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails project.

If you would like to help and plant some trees, please register via council’s Eventbrite page - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/pioneer-valley-mountain-bike-trails-national-tree-planting-day-tickets-671798185457?aff=oddtdtcreator

The details are below:

Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails National Tree Planting Day

Date: Friday, July 28

Time: 10am to 1.30PM

Location: Top paddock of Letchford Street, Finch Hatton

Parking is available on Letchford and Cook streets

Please bring a hat, gloves, sunscreen and water with you.

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.