Mackay Waterfront Project

Abstract

The Mackay Waterfront is a priority project for the region and for good reason – it will showcase Mackay as a waterfront destination of choice to live, work, invest, do business and visit. There are a lot of moving parts however, to turn this great idea into a great place, and it is much more than just infrastructure. Creating an expanse of public area without adding the ‘soul’ is akin to building a show house without furnishing it, and having no-one move in. As engineers and technical decision makers, we often underestimate and undervalue the soft elements that make a house a home, or a public space a well-loved destination. The reality is, if we build the infrastructure, on time and on budget, as per the design plans, and have no community filling the space or having private investment follow, the project has failed to meet its objectives. The Mackay Waterfront has been in the project pipeline for a number of years, with construction of the first stage now well underway and due to be complete this year. There is now heightened interest and progress from private investors and the community, so placemaking and economic development initiatives are also at the forefront of delivery to complement the public realm investment. This presentation will showcase and reflect on the learnings of the Mackay Waterfront project and touch on the attributes and diverse focus Mackay Regional Council is adopting to convert this great idea, into a great place.