Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Reflections from Councillor Nathenea McNamara
One of the things I really enjoy about co-chairing council’s Economic Development and Growth Strategic Advisory Committee is having the opportunity to look beyond what Mackay needs today and consider what our region may need five, ten and even twenty years from now.
Recently, our committee considered a Short-Term Accommodation Needs Analysis looking at Mackay’s future accommodation needs and what increasing economic activity could mean for our region.
When we think about short-term accommodation, we often immediately think about tourists and holidaymakers. But in Mackay, the picture is much broader than that.
Our accommodation sector also supports business travellers, contractors, major projects, conferences and events, visiting families and people coming to our region for work.
As Mackay continues to grow and attract investment, we need to make sure our accommodation capacity grows with it.
The analysis looked at our existing accommodation supply, future demand and where potential gaps may emerge. It also highlighted some of the challenges associated with attracting new hotel development, including construction costs and the commercial viability of projects.
This is where having good information becomes so important.
Council isn’t in the business of building hotels, but we can play an important role in understanding what our region needs, identifying opportunities and ensuring we have the evidence available when talking with potential investors and developers.
It also helps us think more broadly about opportunities such as mixed-use developments and how accommodation can support our wider economic development, tourism and events strategies.
For me, this is exactly the type of forward planning we should be doing.
If we want Mackay to continue attracting major events, conferences, new industries and investment, we need to consider all the infrastructure that sits around that growth and accommodation is part of that picture.
Sometimes the work happening behind the scenes in council’s advisory committees isn’t particularly visible to the community, but reports like this are important.
They help us understand where we are today, where the gaps may be tomorrow, and what we can do now to help ensure Mackay is ready for the opportunities ahead.
If you’re interested in learning more, the full Short-Term Accommodation Needs Analysis is available on Mackay Regional Council’s website at www.discovermackay.com.au/Invest/Resources
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