Mackay Place Strategy

What was the problem we were engaged to solve?

Not unlike many towns and regional centres, Mackay’s CBD had been experiencing a decline in street life and economic activity over many years. Factors influencing this included the opening of a nearby major shopping centre, changing consumer spending habits, lack of unity around a shared vision and lack of alignment between key stakeholders and community. This is a common story in many places in Australia.

What was the process?

Engage with the community, with key stakeholders, with all levels of local government, young people, community groups, individuals of influence and a range of other people, associations and stakeholders. The engagement focused on gathering ideas and asking the community to identify their priority actions. This included workshop sessions as well as one-on-one interviews, online surveying and a series of pop-ups at community events, markets and a SPARK Wood Street public event. The community submitted over 200 ideas and 4800 votes for initiatives. Community workshops were well attended, generally exceeding expectations.

What was achieved?

A shared vision was created based around key Mackay-centric drivers that incorporated history, culture and identity. Principles such as creating life on the streets and creating climate resilient and sustainable initiatives drove ten key moves for the two precincts and twenty-seven actions.

Energy was aligned between business, community members and council to implement these actions with each group playing a role.

The Mackay Waterfront and Place Strategy was unanimously endorsed by the Mackay Regional Council. It is available for download here.

Project Credits

Thanks to the hard work of the Mackay Waterfront team for championing this project Chrissy Evangelou, Veanna Joiner, Aletta Nugent, Shahli Wright, and in her former role, Justine Goddard and all of Mackay’s councillors and Mayor who unanimously endorsed the strategy. Thanks to the team at Four Fold Studio for leading.

This project shows what’s possible when councils, communities, and placemakers come together to reimagine a place. Collaboration builds momentum — and Mackay is leading the way.

Sustainability Outcomes

Social Sustainability Outcomes

• Deep Community Ownership and Empowerment: The strategy’s foundation is built on extensive engagement, including workshops, surveys, and pop-up events. By actively gathering over 200 ideas from the community and stakeholders, the process empowers residents and ensures the final vision is not imposed, but co-created. This fosters a powerful sense of ownership and responsibility for the future of their city centre and waterfront.
• Alignment and Social Cohesion: A key outcome was creating a shared vision that aligns the goals of businesses, community members, and the council. This process builds trust and social capital, creating a unified front where different groups understand their role in the city’s revitalization. This shared purpose is crucial for long-term project success and community harmony.
• Building Social Capital and Capacity: The methodology of engaging with diverse groups, including young people and various community organizations, strengthens the social fabric. It builds networks and relationships between individuals and groups who might not otherwise interact, enhancing the community’s capacity to collaborate on future projects and challenges.

Environmental Sustainability Outcomes

• Integrated Climate Resilience: The strategy explicitly incorporates principles for creating climate-resilient initiatives. This means that future projects developed from this plan will be designed to withstand and adapt to the impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events or sea-level rise, ensuring long-term viability and safety for the community.
• Promotion of Sustainable Transport and Public Health: The core principle of “creating life on the streets” directly promotes environmental sustainability. By making the city center more inviting, walkable, and active, the strategy encourages a shift away from car dependency towards more sustainable modes of transport like walking and cycling. This not only reduces transport-related emissions and traffic congestion but also promotes a healthier, more active lifestyle for residents.