From Comments to Community: Time to Show Up

If you’re old enough to remember the jingle about the Mackay City Heart, you probably remember Centrepoint Arcade too. Maybe you blew your cash on a Walk Like an Egyptian cassette from the record store in there. Before the mega extension at Caneland, the City Heart was full and buzzing. But that wasn’t the only change that shifted the scene. The rise of online shopping transformed how we buy, the pandemic kept many of us home more than ever, and those shifts all took their toll on the heart of the city.

We got the heart of the city (clap, clap)

Nostalgic Facebook groups overflow with black-and-white photos—ladies in gloves, strolling the footpaths in their Sunday best. Folks fondly remember cafés with plastic curtains, dances in Catholic halls, the bands that played them, and department stores with chocolate escalators (OK, maybe that one’s just me).

But while we’re busy reminiscing, the City Heart is still here. And it’s changing.

CBDs across Australia are shifting. The main drag is no longer the automatic centre of gravity. We see boarded up shops, and “for lease” signs. Online shopping has exploded. International chains have arrived. And then there’s parking.

But here’s the thing — parking is not the real problem. It is just the easiest to complain about.

The “parking problem” isn’t just the thing Mackay people like to complain about... Walk down any main street in regional Australia and someone will tell you parking is killing their CBD. But we’ll all happily trek the length of a shopping centre carpark without a second thought. If you park a couple of blocks away in the City Heart, you might run into someone you know, discover a new business, or just enjoy being part of a living street. That’s how community happens—by being in it.

What stings is this: we mourn the empty buildings but forget to cheer for the new businesses having a go. We scroll through memories of old floats and parades, but don’t turn up for the events happening now.

We all miss the buzz of the City Heart.

There’s plenty of love for how it used to be—but bringing that energy back means more than a walk down memory lane.

At the Chamber, we do everything we can to get the word out: socials, emails, posters, word of mouth. And still, we hear it— “I didn’t know it was on.”

But the truth is people are trying. New businesses are opening, events are happening, and there’s real passion to keep the City Heart alive. What it needs now is more of us showing up.

So here’s how you can help:

Like. Share. Tag a friend. Talk about it. Show up.

The City Heart doesn’t need more commentary—it needs community. You are not making an impact on the CBD in the comments section—real progress needs real people showing up.

If you want to see it thrive, be part of the change.

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