New Precinct To Bring More Choice And Jobs To Mackay

Mackay Airport’s Milton Precinct is set to expand with a new supermarket announced as its first tenant, bringing a new grocery option, jobs and future commercial opportunities to the region. Image and Photo supplied by Mackay Airport  

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Mackay residents will soon have another option for grocery shopping, with Queensland-owned supermarket brand Fresh & Save announced as the first tenant for the Mackay Airport Milton Precinct development.

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Preliminary works are underway at the site, with the new supermarket expected to open in mid-2027, and provide an additional grocery shopping option for residents as the region continues to grow.

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Mackay Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker said the supermarket would form an important part of the emerging precinct, which is located near key growth areas including the Bakers Creek community zone.

The Milton Precinct development is expected to bring additional services and facilities to the area, supporting the needs of a growing Mackay community.

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“We are pleased to support greater grocery affordability, choice and convenience for our community,” he said.

“Fresh & Save is well known for its strong value offering, market-style produce, and bulk-buy savings.”

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Mr Barker said the new supermarket would invigorate further commercial development at Milton Precinct.

“Fresh & Save will be positioned within a central, 5,700 square metre site. It will attract significant customer volumes and serve as a catalyst for ongoing business activation at Milton Precinct,” he said.

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“The first stage of Milton Precinct has already unlocked almost 28,000 square metres of development-ready lots with new roads and a network of civil services. The overall precinct will span 200,000 square metres, enabling a range of service providers to co-locate in a single, integrated hub.

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“Milton Precinct will support local operators, new industries and employment while offering convenience for customers. Having direct access to the airport, Bruce Highway and rail line is also highly attractive for businesses who need a fast, affordable and reliable supply chain.”

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According to the brand, its warehouse-style stores feature production butcheries, bakery departments, extensive produce sections, and a range of chilled foods and grocery items.

Stores are already located in a range of suburban and regional areas around Queensland and New South Wales, including suburban Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Grafton.

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The Milton Precinct development is expected to deliver significant economic benefits for the Mackay region, with the project estimated to contribute $134.1 million to the local economy within its first 10 years of operation. Businesses operating from the precinct are expected to generate $42.5 million in output each year.

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Mackay Airport is investing $32 million into key infrastructure at the site, with the development also supported by a loan from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF), which requires projects to demonstrate public benefits including job creation and regional economic growth.

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The precinct is expected to create more than 200 construction jobs, with businesses at the completed development forecast to support an additional 280 onsite jobs.  

The Milton Precinct will be developed in stages over a 10-year period, with commercial operators progressively opening as the precinct expands.

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For more information, visit miltonprecinct.com.au.

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