Message from Mayor Col Meng

With unspoilt coastal beaches, a safe family friendly swimming lagoon and a state of the art convention centre, the Mackay region’s rapid growth and natural beauty have caught the eye of the rest of the country.

The Mackay region boasts 31 beaches, a picturesque blue river and pristine rainforest hinterland. It is the gateway to rich coal deposits in the Bowen basin and is the largest sugar producing region in Australia, with nearly one third of Queensland’s exports originating from the Mackay region.

It is currently an exciting time for the region, for Council and for its 1,000 staff. As the second fastest growing area in regional Queensland (tied with Sunshine Coast), we are bracing for a hectic and economically vibrant 2009–10.

There is no doubt in my mind that we will go from strength to strength, moving onwards and upwards.

With a population of about 110,000 people and an annual growth rate of 2.1 per cent, Council is focused on managing and catering to this growth by providing vital infrastructure and services region wide.

It has been a hectic but rewarding few months for us, with the opening of the $29 million Queensland Government funded Convention Centre and the recently completed $154 million Mackay Water Recycling Project.

Both of these visionary projects are a credit to our previous Councillors and to this current Council for continuing their work.

We are a progressive, vibrant region that offers plenty of diversity.

I hope you enjoy reading a little about the Mackay region and the work our Council does to enrich the lives of our residents.