Minute With The Mayor

Let’s Shape the Future of Airlie Beach Together

The draft Airlie Beach Masterplan is now out for community feedback and Council would love your input.

This isn’t just a plan on paper. It’s a shared vision for the future of Airlie Beach and a roadmap for how we can create better public spaces, encourage smart investment, and get ready to shine when we host the 2032 Olympic sailing events right here in the Whitsundays.

The draft reflects years of community feedback on what matters most — things like pedestrian safety, shade and tree canopy, parking, green space, and how we activate the Foreshore and Airlie Creek to make the town more liveable, walkable, and vibrant. It’s a bold step forward and sets a long-term direction for Airlie right through to 2050.

But it’s important to understand that this won’t happen overnight. The masterplan is designed to guide future decisions and investment over time. Projects will be prioritised and delivered as funding and resources allow — some sooner, some further down the track.

We want to be clear that the masterplan isn’t a promise that everything will be built tomorrow. However, it is a live, shovel-ready blueprint that puts us in a strong position to attract funding, guide future improvements, and make sure we’re ready to seize big opportunities — like the 2032 Olympics — when they come our way.

Now it’s over to you.

You can explore the plan online at on our Your Say on Council’s website or visit your local Council customer service centre for a printed copy and hardcopy survey. Feedback is open until 17 August.

If you’d rather talk it through face to face our engagement officer has been out and about with the next chance at the Reef Festival markets on Saturday, August 2.

We’re also running a student arts trail competition alongside consultation. Local students are invited to submit ideas for murals, sculptures, signs, or creative landscaping that tell the story of Airlie Beach. There’s a $50 PEC voucher up for grabs, and their ideas could help shape real projects in the years ahead.

Whether you’re a resident, a business owner, a parent, or just someone who loves this town, now’s the time to have your say. This is about building a better future for Airlie Beach, not just for today, but for generations to come.

Let’s shape it together.

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