Sarina Shire is a vibrant coastal community of about 1,441 square kilometres situated on the east coast of the Mackay Region of Queensland. Its urban centre, Sarina, is located approximately 950 kilometres north of Brisbane and some 34 kilometres south of Mackay. The estimated population of Sarina as of 30 June 2000 was 10,051 and continues to grow at a rate of approximately 1.8 per cent, the second highest in the Mackay Region behind Whitsunday Shire.
Sarina Shire is located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and enjoys a pleasant climate with average winter temperatures ranging from 12°C to 23°C, while average summer temperatures range from 21°C to 30°C.
The economy of the Shire is predominated by coal exporting, sugar cane and beef production, tropical fruit growing, fishing, crabbing and prawning. Coal exporting is an extremely important activity for Australia’s export income. In 1998/99, the Hay Point Coal Terminals handled an aggregate of 64.4 million tonnes of coal which is 61.5 per cent of total coal exports from Queensland ports.
The Shire has thriving beach communities at Louisa Creek, Salonika Beach, Grasstree Beach, Campwin Beach, Sarina Beach and Armstrong Beach/Freshwater Point, as well as the rural township of Koumala on the Bruce Highway to the south of Sarina.
The Sarina Shire Council has endeavoured to stimulate activity in the Shire over the past two years with the following projects.
- Employment of an Economic Development Project Officer to perform a Tourism Audit of the Shire, formulate a Sarina Town Revitalisation Strategy, and to examine ways in which business and industrial activity can be facilitated in the Shire.
- Establishment of a Tourism focused development on the southern approaches to Sarina. This includes a Tourist Information Arts and Crafts Centre, working with a community based cooperative group and, an interactive Community Centre where local attractions, industries and the like can be showcased. This area is known as the ‘Field of Dreams’ Project with the area partly established. Funding applications currently with Federal Government Departments will assist continuing development.
- Support for a Sarina Shire Youth Council to assist in meeting the needs of the Shire’s young people.
