A proactive plan to ensure our coastal communities are as prepared as possible for the impacts of climate change and coastal hazards is one step closer. The Mackay Coast – Our Future, Coastal Hazard Adaptation Study improves council’s understanding of coastal hazards. It also provides a plan to manage the impact on our communities, environment, cultural values and built assets. The draft study was endorsed for public consultation at last week’s ordinary meeting of council. Mayor Greg Williamson
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Rain and strong winds put a dampener on Daly Bay Illuminate in July. However, rather than abandon the iconic event, the Mackay Festivals team worked hard to secure the various drawcard installations for a new date in October. This amazing family-friendly event is back, with the first night illuminating Queens Park last night. The park has come alive with giant interactive dogs, exotic UV florals, neon sea creatures and so much more until Sunday, October 8. Better still, entry to this all-ages, i
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Do you have enough supplies to last you three days in the case of a disaster? Mackay Regional Council has joined forces with Woolworths to make it easier for Mackay region residents to organise their disaster supply kit. Across the region’s eight Woolworths stores, each supermarket will have two dedicated aisle ends at the back of the store stocked with key items for household disaster kits. Mackay Deputy Mayor Karen May said council had provided banners with tear-off shopping lists outside o
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With Queensland's bushfire season, the upcoming summer rains, and the looming cyclone season, farmers across the state are gearing up for a season of unpredictable challenges. It's a crucial time for primary producers to ensure the safety of their families, workers, and livestock. The recent warmer winter weather has raised concerns about an increased bushfire risk, highlighting the need for preparedness. To assist Queenslanders in facing these imminent natural challenges, disaster guides have
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• Applications are open now for the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award until 25 October 2023. • The Rural Women’s Award supports Australian women to use and develop their skills to benefit their industries and communities. • The AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant is open to provide professional development support to rural women to bring their idea, cause or vision to life. Applications are now open for the 2024 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, a platform designed to empowe
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The ABS released the Lending to Households and Businesses data for August 2023 earlier this week, which provides statistics on housing finance commitments. It also released its monthly building approvals data for the same month for detached houses and multi-units covering all states and territories. “Housing and finance data continues to be weighed down by the interest rate increases that the RBA commenced more than a year earlier,” added Mr Devitt. “In the three months to August 2023 lendin
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Your Insurer's Role As our vehicles become increasingly technologically advanced, it's crucial to grasp the significance of code clearing and calibrations in the context of automotive repairs and insurance claims. Understanding how these processes factor into pre, mid, and post-repair stages can make all the difference. Manufacturers issue specific position statements that dictate how these procedures should be carried out. Some manufacturers emphasize their importance by using words like "MUS
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The Greater Whitsunday region is forging a new path with the launch of the Decarbonisation Accelerated project. The Decarbonisation Accelerated project is taking a regional economic approach to encourage businesses and industries to start their decarbonisation journey. Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) chief executive officer Ms Kylie Porter said the Decarbonisation Accelerated project is one of the first of its kind in Australia, where a whole-of-region approach to decarbonisation is being tak
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“Safety on site in the construction industry is a core aspect of the day-to-day work builders and tradies manage in building the homes we all live in and enjoy.” The construction industry has made significant strides over the last two decades in managing safety on site and workplace safety incidents are continuing to trend downwards, according to Simon Croft, HIA Chief Executive Industry & Policy. October is National Safe Work Month, and Mr Croft says that whilst safety should always be fro
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With storm season upon us, Ergon Energy Network’s vegetation management crews have been out in droves, trimming branches away from powerlines to reduce the risk of outages and they are urging the community not to plant tall tree species near the electricity network. Trees and branches contacting the power network can be one of the most common causes of outages during severe weather, according to Vegetation Management Officer Tim De Vries. “Severe weather often brings with it high winds that
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For Glencore Indigenous Employment Pathway Program Following a successful 2023, the new intake for the Glencore Indigenous Employment Pathway Program will commence once again in early 2024. The program is structured to provide participants with the experience and job-readiness skills for a successful career in the mining industry. All Indigenous Australians who live in or have connection to the areas where Glencore operate are welcome to apply. These include the mines in the Bowen Basin and
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Mackay Regional Council is taking steps to make the popular Mackay Seniors expo more accessible to regional seniors. This year, council will be running free buses from Sarina and Mirani to the event at the Mackay Showgrounds. The Mackay Seniors Expo is held in the Showgrounds’ big shed on Tuesday, October 10, from 9am to noon. The expo is free to attend and will feature about 70 exhibitors covering everything from retirement homes, healthcare and funeral homes to services, products, recreat
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Hey there, budget-savvy ladies! Big news on the money front – the Reserve Bank of Australia has hit the pause button on interest rate hikes again this month. What does that mean for us, the superheroes managing the family budget? Let's break it down. Think of interest rates like the heartbeat of the economy. They affect everything from home loans to how much we spend on groceries. The RBA decided to keep things steady, knowing the world economy is a bit shaky. So, how can we make the most of th
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OPINION PIECE If you couldn’t believe how fast this year was going already, here’s some crazy news for you. We’re almost halfway through Spring! That means the weather is warming up and it’s almost ‘suns out buns out’ time. And there’s nothing better than a couple of cold ones with good company at the pool or the beach with the perfect sunny soundtrack. Something about me is I love to find some hot new music for us to add to our summer playlists and I wanted to dedicate today’s column to my t
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Ahead of the RSPCA’s major annual fundraising appeal, ‘Give To Get Them Home’, this Thursday, 5th October, the organisation is calling on Mackay locals to dig deep and help find the ‘purr-fect’ home for neglected, homeless and abused animals. A new report from RSPCA Queensland states that there has been a 26 percent decrease in applications to adopt a pet in 2022/23. This has happened through the rising cost of living, with more people surrendering their animals. With 42,000 animals requirin
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How awesome is it that we all have it and we need to use it in our everyday lives? Take a moment to think about the world, and all the amazing things that are in it, all come from people using their imaginations. For example, Richard Branson by his own admission was dyslexic with a failure to understand schoolwork. An enlightened Branson said he had one thing, and we all have it our imagination and to dream big and make your imagination be your main thin
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Mackay is a hub of natural beauty and adventure waiting to be explored. Whether you're seeking a day trip or a tranquil retreat, we've compiled a list of hidden gems around Mackay that promise unforgettable experiences. Seaforth: A Coastal Paradise Located a mere 35 kilometres northeast of Mackay, Seaforth is a quaint coastal town that beckons travellers with its pristine beaches, fishing hotspots, and breathtaking natural landscapes. The town boasts one of the region's few swimming enclosures,
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OPINION PIECE Think about this. Pet euthanasia is a difficult reality for animal workers and pet lovers alike. The crippling truth is that approximately 20 per cent of 200,000 dogs admitted to Australian shelters each year are euthanised, with cats facing an even more devastating rate of euthanisation. Council’s Animal Management Centre is testimony to this fact. While the centre has achieved an impressive milestone of four years since a rehomable cat was euthanised and six years for rehomable
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Friday 06 October Public Art Walk Mackay – New Mural Unveiling 4:30pm - 5:30pm Hosted by Artspace Mackay Public Art Officer Jennifer Dalton-Smith, this free city art walk for all ages begins at Artspace Mackay and takes you through the city centre. Along the way, participants will learn about Mackay’s iconic public art installations and the local, and internationally-acclaimed artists who created them. Wear a hat, and comfortable shoes, bring a bottle of water, and arrive promptly at Artspace M
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Pioneer Swimming Club held its annual Long Course Transition Meet at the Mackay Aquatic Centre on Saturday, 30 September and 1 October, proudly sponsored by Naming Rights and Gold Sponsor, BTP Group. The popularity of this meet has grown again this year – having welcomed just under 200 swimmers and double that in supporters through the gates over the 2-day event. Swimmers travelled from as far North as Cairns, Townsville, Ayr, Proserpine, Cannonvale and then to the South, Rockhampton, Emerald,
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Mackay schoolgirl Skye Vaughan relishes a challenge on the hockey field or basketball court. With her steely determination, athletic prowess, vision and will to win the dual Queensland representative is well equipped to show her wares. At the age of 14 the versatile Vaughan is regarded as one of the State’s most gifted sportswomen with an impressive list of achievements at an elite level. When she’s not keeping close tabs on strikers as a talented high fullback on the hockey pitch, you’ll fin
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In the world of social bowls, on Wednesday, September 27th, the triples game saw Betty Mulhall, Isla Comelli, and Kathy Mathews emerge as winners. The pairs game witnessed Fay McCubben and Lidia McCarthy securing the runner-up position. Moving to Sunday, September 24th, the Club Mixed Pairs final took centre stage. Competing in this closely contested match were Mick Walsh and Lois Deguara against Peter Delaney and Jean Zamparutti. Ultimately, Mick and Lois clinched the title. The Men's and Lad
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Life can’t get any better for Mackay Cutters iron woman Shannon Mato after powerhouse performances on the rugby league field in 2023. The dual code international – who was part of the Jillaroos’ World Cup-winning squad in the United Kingdom - has experienced a bumper season in the women’s ranks since leading the Cutters to the BMD Premiership semi finals back in May. Front rower Mato helped Queensland clinch an Origin series against the NSW Blues before helping the Gold Coast Titans reach the
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At the start of this September’s school holidays, Mackay Surf Lifesaving Club sent a ‘small, but strong’ contingent of 10 lifesavers to take on the best of the North Barrier Branch, consisting of competitors from Sarina in the south to Ingham in the north. The event took place at the beautiful Magnetic Island for the first carnival of the season, hosted by Townsville’s Arcadian SLSC. The small team in numbers was strong in its competitiveness, taking out ten gold, five silver and six bronze med
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Mackay-Whitsunday senior representative cricket team have fallen short in their quest for the Bulls Masters Twenty20 Country Challenge Cup. The Nitros bowed out of the trophy race after a heart-breaking four wicket loss to the Central Queensland Seamers in an epic semi-final last weekend at Griffiths Park in Cairns. It was the Nitros first defeat at the 2023 tournament after posting impressive wins over the Wide Bay Flames, reigning champions Far North Fusion and Darling Downs Suns in the prel
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