Building Mackay's Future Means Growing the Right Places

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie MP and Glen Kelly MP visiting the site of Riverbend Estate in Mirani. Photo supplied

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Queensland is in the middle of a housing shortage and nowhere is that challenge more apparent than in our region. We need more homes, more choice and more affordable housing, but we also need to make sure we are growing in the right places.

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The Crisafulli Government has recognised the need to increase housing supply through initiatives such as the Residential Activation Fund (RAF), which is helping unlock new residential developments across regional Queensland. It is a practical investment that supports the infrastructure needed to bring new housing to market sooner.

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Recently, I was pleased to welcome the Deputy Premier to the Mirani electorate to see firsthand the progress being made at the Riverbend Estate in Mirani. Developments like Riverbend demonstrate what can be achieved when government partners with industry to invest in enabling infrastructure and support sustainable regional growth.

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As we continue to plan for Mackay's future, I believe we also need to have an honest conversation about where that growth should occur.

The Northern Beaches have experienced significant residential expansion over many years. While that growth has brought opportunities, it has also placed increasing pressure on roads, schools and community services. We should be cautious about concentrating too much of our future housing supply into one part of the region.

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Instead, we should be encouraging balanced growth across the Mackay region by investing in communities that already have the foundations in place to support new families.

Walkerston, the Pioneer Valley and Sarina are ideally positioned to accommodate future growth.

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These communities offer excellent schools, established sporting clubs, thriving local businesses and strong community connections. They also provide opportunities for people to enjoy a regional lifestyle while remaining within easy reach of Mackay's employment centres, such as Paget Hay Point and over the hill.  

That is why I am continuing to advocate strongly to the Deputy Premier and the Queensland Government for support for the proposed Crossing Estate development in Sarina. This project has the potential to deliver hundreds of new homes while supporting local jobs, businesses and long-term economic growth. Sarina also benefits from having more than one road connecting it to the wider region, providing greater resilience during emergencies and greater capacity to support future population growth.

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Housing policy should not simply be about building more houses. It should be about building stronger communities.

By investing in places like Walkerston, the Pioneer Valley and Sarina, we can deliver the homes our region needs while making better use of existing infrastructure, supporting local economies and ensuring growth is shared across the entire Mackay region.

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If we get this right, we won't just solve today's housing shortage, we will build stronger, more resilient communities for generations to come.

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