Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA)

Local contractor awarded $5.5m Mackay Waterfront tender

More than $5.5 million being spent on a riverside revitalisation project will stay in the Mackay community after a local contractor was awarded the tender.

Woollam Constructions has been successful with its tender for the first public realm works in the Riverside precinct of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA).

It is the second major Mackay Waterfront project following the successful delivery of the Queens Park revitalisation in 2020.

The Woollam Constructions tender, awarded at an ordinary meeting today, is for the Riverside Link revitalisation, along both River Street and River Street Service Road, from the carpark at Carlyle Street to Burns Street.

Future stages of the $10 million Riverside Revitalisation project include a Riverside pontoon and improvements to the council-owned 8 River Street building (former restaurant).

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen recently announced the Federal Government would commit just over $4.12 million in funding through its Building Better Regions Fund for the Riverside revitalisation.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council, with capital works funding also allocated, had moved quickly to the tender process.

“We’re extremely keen for this project to come to fruition as quickly as possible and it is exciting that construction works will be happening there soon,’’ he said.

“Construction should begin by late February or early March and be completed in time for the Christmas holidays and New Year period.”

Mayor Williamson said these public realm works would be a catalyst for future development and would also provide a fantastic waterfront space for residents and visitors.

“This project is the first stage of three that will create a waterfront that is a must-see destination,’’ he said.

“It will unlock opportunities for development and investment, benefiting the entire region’s economic growth and community health and wellbeing.”

Above and below: An artist's impression of how the Riverside link will be transformed.

Australian Government invests $4.1 million in Mackay Waterfront transformation

Australian Government funding of $4.1 million will kickstart a Mackay Regional Council $9 million transformational project that will re-orient the city to its beautiful blue Pioneer River and beachfront.

The funding through the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund was announced on Friday, October 8, and will open up a new tourism industry and create tourism jobs.

Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen joined Mayor Greg Williamson at Bluewater Quay to announce the funding for stage one of the Mackay Waterfront PDA - Riverfront Revitalisation Project.

“I am very pleased to announce that more than $4.1 million in funding under this tourism focused round of the Building Better Regions Fund will go to Mackay’s Riverfront Revitalisation Project,” Mr Christensen said.

“This is a component of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA) and it will deliver the first stage of revitalisation works within the riverside project area,’’ he said.

“I am a strong supporter of Mackay Regional Council’s vision for the Waterfront PDA and I have repeatedly advocated for the project in Canberra.

“This is about re-orienting the city to the water – the river and the sea – and in the process building on our tourism offering and liveability.

“It was one of the final things I wanted to leave the city with, to finish off my time as the Federal MP – a final gift if you like – to help diversify our economy by boosting our tourism offering.”

Mayor Williamson said it was a very exciting day for Mackay, with the Federal Government’s $4.1 million the key to starting the $9 million project.

“We’re putting in about $5 million to kickstart this whole Waterfront project,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“We’re hoping we’ll get the tenders out by the end of this month, which means we’ll hopefully see a start on this project in early in 2022,’’ he said.

“The area in front of the Fish Market, right back to Paxton's, will become a huge public realm component as part of this project.”

“What that means is from about the area in front of the Fish Market right back to Paxton’s becomes a huge public realm component.”

The former Don Daniels and Marias Donkey restaurant and bar building over the river will also be upgraded and made safe.

A $2 million pontoon will also be built as part of the project.

“We are now delivering on what we’ve been saying for years – we need to celebrate this fantastic river we’ve got,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“It’s great for our community and great for tourism,’’ he said.

Pioneer River views have been unlocked for the first time in more than 100 years with the demolition of 6 River Street. The building removal is allowing this section of riverfront to be returned to the community. Construction of the public realm between Paxtons Warehouse and the Mackay Fish Market is set to begin later this year to activate the riverfront and maintain the fabulous views.

Click here to view the time-lapse demolition video.

Council received an excellent response to its Mackay Waterfront Expression of Interest (EOI) tender, with seven submissions received in total.

Of these, two companies have been shortlisted to proceed to the next stage of consultation.

They include Brisbane-based Sentinel Group Holding and local consortium ReNew Mackay Pty Ltd.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the quality of the submissions received was top-notch.

“As part of the Expression of Interest, we asked tenderers to identify potential development opportunities at six key council-owned sites within the Mackay Waterfront area,” he said.

“The submissions put forward some excellent ideas that we look forward to exploring in more detail.

“ReNew Mackay’s proposal included plans for luxury residential properties, retired living, commercial offices and tourism opportunities across the majority of the council-owned sites listed in the EOI, as well as adjoining privately-owned sites.

“The submission from Sentinel Group Holding focussed on the Gregory Street car park and included provision for a 4.5 star corporate hotel and a commercial, health and retail building. It also retained public car parking.

“The two submissions complement each other and provide great ideas for linkage through city laneways to ensure there is excellent connection through the City Centre.

“Ideas from each submission will be linked together to form a plan that will guide the overall vision for the Mackay Waterfront.”

There were six sites included as part of the Mackay Waterfront EOI including:

> Corner of Gregory and River streets (currently used as a car park)
> 12-18 Wood Street (currently the vacant former Retravision building)
> 1-5 Wood Street (currently vacant land around former Pioneer Shire Building)
> Corner of Brisbane and River streets (currently used as a car park)
> 8 River Street (currently a building with lessees)
> 6 River Street (currently a vacant building).

Council will now hold discussions with both shortlisted parties to reach the tender phase for each of these key areas in the New Year.

SIX council-owned freehold sites in the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA) are earmarked as potential catalysts for exciting inner-city projects.

Such projects would support revitalisation of the City Centre and proposed waterfront public realm upgrades near these sites.

Council is about to gauge interest in the development potential of those sites through an Expressions of Interest (EOI) process.

Mayor Greg Williamson said calling for expressions of interest was an opportunity to test the market appetite for development through private investment.

“It is a cost-effective way to identify options for development of the lots, especially as council has no firm view on possible projects,’’ Cr Williamson said.

“It is a good way of attracting potential private sector investment without major resource implications for both council and potential developers,’’ he said.

The sites range from the former Retravision building in Wood Street to two waterfront properties in River Street.

Cr Williamson said the decision at today’s ordinary meeting to call for expressions of interest for the six freehold sites did not commit council to continuing to a tender phase if proposals were not deemed to be in the public interest.

He said following the EOI process, council could choose to invite tenders from a shortlist if it wished to proceed.

The EOI is expected to be advertised at the end of June, with a recommendation report provided to council in August.

Respondents will be able to provide an EOI for individual or consolidated sites. Potential uses may include:

> Commercial activities providing opportunities for business, administration and professional service providers
> Accommodation activities offering a diverse range of short and long-term residential offerings
> Food and drink activities (restaurant), craft brewery, distillery, function centre or major entertainment activities overlooking the Pioneer River
> Health care and community support services
> Mixed use tourist development or unique regional attraction supporting both land and water-based tourism opportunities
> Any combination of the above.

The six council-owned freehold sites include two car parks. One is on the corner of River and Gregory streets and the other the corner of Brisbane and River streets.

“Calling for expressions of interest in these two sites does not mean council is proposing to reduce car parking to make way for development,’’ Cr Williamson said.

“There could be any number of mixed used developments which could incorporate car parking arrangements for both public and private use,’’ he said.

The properties also include 1-5 Wood Street, which is the former Pioneer Shire Council building and surrounding vacant land.

“It is important to note that the focus of this site is the available vacant land and not the building itself, which is State Heritage-listed,’’ Cr Williamson said.

The six properties which are part of the EOI process include:
> About 5800 square metres on the corner of Gregory and River streets (currently a car park).
> About 2052 square metres at 14-18 Wood Street (former Retravision building)
> About 1470 square metres at 1-15 Wood Street (former Pioneer Shire Council building and surrounding vacant land and access ways
> About 4300 square metres on corner of Brisbane and River streets (currently a car park).
> About 2065 square metres at 8 River Street (currently a building with lessees)
> About 4273 square metres at 6 River Street (currently a vacant building)

Council is also currently focusing on public realm upgrades and complementary place-making activations near these sites.

We are pleased to announce that on Wednesday January 22, 2020, council endorsed the Mackay Waterfront Master Plan.

The master plan sets out the public realm vision and concepts for the Mackay Waterfront over the next 20 years to inform more detailed design of individual projects in the future and complement the objectives and requirements of the PDA development scheme.

The purpose of the master plan is to establish the overall vision for the Mackay Waterfront through the incorporation of the community’s ideas and previous investigations completed by council for areas within the PDA. It will be a living, evolving document to inform further design and respond to opportunities and constraints that emerge.

The public has played an integral part in the vision and objectives for this project, with consultation starting in 2017 through to November 2019. During these valuable consultation periods, the Mackay community has generously put forward their thoughts, ideas and aspirations for the public realm and community opportunities, preferred building types, and general development opportunities across the Mackay Waterfront area. This valued input has shaped and informed the vision, principles and concepts in the Mackay Waterfront Master Plan.

Take a look at the master plan by clicking here

The draft Mackay Waterfront Master Plan sets out the public realm vision and concepts for the Mackay Waterfront over the next 20 year period to inform more detailed design of individual projects in the future and complements the objectives and requirements of the PDA development scheme.

Council welcomes your feedback on the draft Mackay Waterfront Master Plan. To read the draft Master Plan click here.

Survey open:
Wednesday, September 11, 2019 to Sunday, November 4, 2019

The Mackay Waterfront is set to be a game changer for the region.

Published 14 October 2018

This video displays a fly through of the potential redevelopment opportunities.

Published 8 November 2016