Mackay Region

It has been suggested that this article be merged with List of Mackay suburbs. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2024.

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Local government area in Queensland, Australia

Mackay Region
Queensland

Location within Queensland

Coordinates| 21°08′28″S 149°11′08″E﻿ / ﻿21.14111°S 149.18556°E﻿ / -21.14111; 149.18556
Population| 121,691 (2021 census)[1]
• Density| 15.9658/km2 (41.3511/sq mi)
Established| 2008
Area| 7,622 km2 (2,942.9 sq mi)
Mayor| Greg Williamson[2]
Council seat| Mackay
Region| North Queensland
State electorate(s)|

* Mackay
* Mirani
* Whitsunday

Federal division(s)|

* Dawson
* Capricornia

Website| Mackay Region
| LGAs around Mackay Region:

Whitsunday | Whitsunday | Coral Sea
Whitsunday | Mackay Region | Coral Sea
Isaac | Isaac | Isaac

The Mackay Region is a local government area located in North Queensland, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by three previous local government areas with modern histories extending back as far as 1869.

It has an estimated operating budget of A$118 million.

In the 2021 census, the Mackay Region had a population of 121,691 people.[1]

## History

[edit]

Yuwibara (also known as Yuibera, Yuri, Juipera, Yuwiburra) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwibara country. It is closely related to the Biri languages/dialects. The Yuwibara language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Mackay Region.[3]

Prior to 2008, the Mackay Region was an entire area of three previous and distinct local government areas:

* the City of Mackay;
* the Shire of Mirani;
* and the Shire of Sarina.

The city had its beginning in the Mackay Municipality which was proclaimed on 22 September 1869 under the Municipal Institutions Act 1864.[4] Its first mayor was David Dalrymple, and the council first met on 1 December 1869. It achieved a measure of autonomy in 1878 with the enactment of the Local Government Act. With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, Mackay became a Town on 31 March 1903, and was ultimately proclaimed a City on 17 August 1918.

On 11 December 1879, the Pioneer Division came into being as one of Queensland's 74 divisions created under the Divisional Boards Act 1879 on 11 November 1879, chaired by John Ewen Davidson. On 31 March 1903, Pioneer became a Shire. Two areas split away from it over the next decade; the Shire of Sarina on 1 January 1912, and the Shire of Mirani on 4 September 1913.[5]

On 21 November 1991, the Electoral and Administrative Review Commission, created two years earlier, produced its second report, and recommended that local government boundaries in the Mackay area be rationalised. The Local Government (Mackay and Pioneer) Regulation 1993 was gazetted on 17 December 1993, and on 30 March 1994, the two amalgamated into a larger City of Mackay, which first met on 8 April 1994.

### Mackay Region

[edit]

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released a report making recommendations for statewide reform of local government boundaries, and recommended that the three areas of Mackay, Mirani and Sarina amalgamate, due mainly to Mackay's role as a regional centre and all three shires' involvement in sugar production. The City of Mackay endorsed the suggestion, but the two shires proposed alternative options. In the end, the commission's proposal was unchanged.[6] On 15 March 2008, the City and Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.

## Mayors

[edit]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2020)

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* 2000–present: Gregory Roy Williamson[7]

## Council

[edit]

Mackay Regional Council

Leadership

Mayor

Greg Williamson, Team Greg Williamson

Deputy Mayor

Karen May, Team Greg Williamson

Seats| 11 elected representatives, including a mayor and 10 councillors
Elections

Last election

| 16 March 2024

Mackay Regional Council is unsubdivided, meaning it does not have any wards. The mayor is directly-elected.

The incumbent mayor, Greg Williamson, formed the Greg Williamson Alliance ahead of the 2016 election, with six members of the group re-elected in 2020.[8]

In 2023, four councillors left the group, and in 2024 Team Greg Williamson was formed with the stated aim of "creat[ing] a progressive, modern council".[8][9]

### Current composition

[edit]

The current council, elected in 2024, is:

Position | Councillor | Party

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Mayor  |  | Greg Williamson | Team Greg Williamson
Councillor  |  | Karen May  | Team Greg Williamson
| Martin Bella  | Independent
| George Christensen | Mackay First
| Namarca Corowa  | Mackay First
| Peter Sheedy  | Independent
| Belinda Hassan  | Independent Labor
| Allison Jones  | Independent
| Ash-Lee Johnson  | Team Greg Williamson
| Nathenea MacRae  | Mackay First
| Heath Paton  | Mackay First

## Past councillors

[edit]

### 2020−present

[edit]

Year  | Councillor  | Councillor  | Councillor  | Councillor  | Councillor  | Councillor  | Councillor  | Councillor  | Councillor  | Councillor

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2020 |  | Karen May (Williamson Alliance/Team Williamson)  |  | Martin Bella (Ind/Ind. LNP/Ind)  |  | Laurence Bonaventura (Ind.)  |  | Justin Englert (Williamson Alliance/Ind.)  |  | Michelle Green (Williamson Alliance/Team Williamson)  |  | Belinda Hassan (Williamson Alliance/Ind. Labor)  |  | Alison Jones (Ind.)  |  | Fran Mann (Williamson Alliance/Ind. Labor)  |  | Russell Seymour (Ind.)  |  | Pauline Townsend (Williamson Alliance/Ind.)
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |  |  |  |
2024 |  |
2024 |  | George Christensen (Mackay First)  |  | Namarca Corowa (Mackay First)  |  | Peter Sheedy (Ind.)  |  | Ash-Lee Johnson (Team Williamson)  |  | Nathenea MacRae (Mackay First)  |  | Heath Paton (Mackay First)

## Election results

[edit]

### 2024

[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2024 Queensland local elections § Mackay.[edit]

2024 Queensland local elections: Mackay[10][11][12] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

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|
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| Independent Labor | Belinda Hassan (elected)  | 26,376  | 4.16  |
| Mackay First | George Christensen (elected)  | 25,556  | 4.03  |
| Mackay First | Namarca Corowa (elected)  | 25,440  | 4.01  |
| Independent | Martin Bella (elected)  | 25,364  | 4.00  |
| Independent | Peter Sheedy (elected)  | 25,118  | 3.96  |
| Team Greg Williamson | Ash-Lee Johnson (elected)  | 24,404  | 3.85  |
| Independent | Alison Jones (elected)  | 24,399  | 3.84  |
| Mackay First | Nathenea MacRae (elected)  | 24,149  | 3.80  |
| Mackay First | Heath Paton (elected)  | 24,084  | 3.79  |
| Team Greg Williamson | Karen May (elected)  | 24,000  | 3.78  |
| Team Greg Williamson | Michelle Green  | 23,941  | 3.77  |
| Independent | Pauline Townsend  | 23,601  | 3.72  |
| Mackay First | Melissa Fowler  | 23,486  | 3.70  |
| Independent Labor | Fran Mann  | 23,118  | 3.64  |
| Mackay First | Keith Hicks  | 22,705  | 3.58  |
| Mackay First | Jeff Keioskie  | 22,390  | 3.53  |
| Mackay First | Kylee Stanton  | 22,274  | 3.51  |
| Mackay First | Ian Christensen | 21,831  | 3.44  |
| Team Greg Williamson | Neil Wallace  | 21,730  | 3.42  |
| Mackay First | Lindsay Temple  | 21,222  | 3.34  |
| Independent | Justin Englert  | 19,432  | 3.06  |
| Independent | Greg Fisher  | 19,076  | 3.01  |
| Team Greg Williamson | Peter Freeleagus  | 18,902  | 2.98  |
| Independent | Russell Seymour  | 18,063  | 2.85  |
| Independent | Kimberly Doyle  | 17,805  | 2.81  |
| Team Greg Williamson | Stephen Cutting  | 17,792  | 2.80  |
| Independent | Les Scott  | 17,462  | 2.75  |
| Team Greg Williamson | Joshua Thornton  | 17,370  | 2.74  |
| Independent LNP | Ian Rowan  | 13,580  | 2.14  |
Turnout | 73,008  | 82.16  |
Party total votes
| Mackay First | 233,137  | 36.73  | +36.73
| Independent | 190,320  | 29.98  |
| Team Greg Williamson | 148,139  | 23.34  |
| Independent Labor | 49,494  | 7.80  |
| Independent LNP | 13,580  | 2.14  |
Party total seats  | Seats  | ±
| Mackay First | 4  |  4
| Independent | 3  |  1
| Team Greg Williamson | 2  |  4
| Independent Labor | 1  |  1

* Team Greg Williamson changes compared with Greg Williamson Alliance at 2020 election
* Belinda Hassan was elected as Greg Williamson Alliance but became Independent Labor in December 2023
* Fran Mann was elected as Greg Williamson Alliance but became Independent Labor in December 2023
* Justin Englert was elected as Greg Williamson Alliance but became independent in December 2023
* Pauline Townsend was elected as Greg Williamson Alliance but became independent in December 2023

## Settlements

[edit]

Further information: List of Mackay suburbs

The Mackay Region includes the following settlements:

Suburbs:

* Inner suburbs:
* East Mackay
* Mackay (city centre and CBD)
* North Mackay
* South Mackay
* West Mackay
* Outer suburbs:
* Andergrove
* Beaconsfield
* Blacks Beach
* Bucasia
* Cremorne
* Dolphin Heads
* Eimeo
* Erakala
* Foulden
* Glenella
* Mackay Harbour
* Mount Pleasant
* Nindaroo
* Ooralea
* Paget
* Racecourse
* Richmond
* Rural View
* Shoal Point
* Slade Point
* Te Kowai

Towns:

* Bakers Creek
* Ball Bay
* Brampton Island
* Calen
* Farleigh
* Hampden
* Kuttabul
* Laguna Quays
* Lindeman Island
* McEwens Beach
* Midge Point
* Mount Ossa
* Oakenden
* Pindi Pindi
* Seaforth
* St Helens Beach
* Walkerston

Localities:

* Alexandra
* Balberra
* Balnagowan
* Belmunda
* Bloomsbury
* Chelona
* Dumbleton
* Dunnrock
* Greenmount
* Habana
* Homebush
* Mentmore
* Mount Charlton
* Mount Pelion
* Palmyra
* Pleystowe
* Rosella
* Sandiford
* Sunnyside
* The Leap
* Victoria Plains
* Yalboroo

National Parks:

* Cape Hillsborough NP
* Eungella NP
* Mount Jukes NP
* Mount Martin NP
* Mount Ossa NP
* Pioneer Peaks NP
* Reliance Creek NP

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Mirani area:

* Benholme (village)
* Brightly (locality)
* Crediton (village)
* Dalrymple Heights (village)
* Dows Creek (town)
* Eton (town)
* Eungella (village)
* Eungella Dam (locality)
* Finch Hatton (town)
* Gargett (town)
* Hazledean (village)
* Kinchant Dam (locality)
* Marian (town)
* Mirani (town)
* Mia Mia (village)
* Mount Martin (village)
* Netherdale (village)
* North Eton (locality)
* Owens Creek (village)
* Pinevale (village)
* Pinnacle (locality)
* Septimus (town)

Sarina area:

* Alligator Creek (town)
* Armstrong Beach (town)
* Campwin Beach (town)
* Freshwater Point (town)
* Grasstree Beach (town)
* Half Tide (town)
* Hay Point (town)
* Koumala (town)
* Munbura (village)
* Sarina (town)
* Sarina Beach (town)
* Sarina Range (locality)

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## Demographics

[edit]

The population figures for each of the predecessor local government areas prior to the 2008 amalgamation:

Year  | Total Region  | Mackay  | Pioneer  | Mirani  | Sarina

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1933 | 28,124 | 10,665 | 9,926 | 4,412 | 3,121
1947 | 32,947 | 13,486 | 11,606 | 4,587 | 3,268
1954 | 37,924 | 14,762 | 14,316 | 5,056 | 3,790
1961 | 41,196 | 16,809 | 15,741 | 4,760 | 3,886
1966 | 48,580 | 18,640 | 19,900 | 5,379 | 4,611
1971 | 51,903 | 19,148 | 22,561 | 4,772 | 5,422
1976 | 57,903 | 20,224 | 26,938 | 4,889 | 5,852
1981 | 66,057 | 20,664 | 33,732 | 4,739 | 6,922
1986 | 70,674 | 22,199 | 36,084 | 4,854 | 7,537
1991 | 76,372 | 23,052 | 40,614 | 4,625 | 8,081
1996 | 86,376 | 71,894 | 5,088 | 9,394
2001 | 89,877 | 75,020 | 5,220 | 9,637
2006 | 101,525 | 85,450 | 5,406 | 10,720

The estimated population figures (official census population figures are in bold) for the amalgamated Mackay Region from 2008.

Year  | Total Region Population  | Change Since Previous Year  | % Change Since Previous Year  |

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|
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2008 | 108,644 | +2,618 | +2.47% |
2009 | 111,455 | +2,811 | +2.59% |
2010 | 113,699 | +2,244 | +2.01% |
2011 | 112,798 | -901 | -0.79% | [13]
2012 | 117,603 | +4,805 | +4.26% |
2013 | 119,076 | +1,473 | +1.25% |
2014 | 119,272 | +196 | +0.16% |
2015 | 118,771 | -501 | -0.42% |
2016  | 114,969  | -3,802 | -3.20% | [14]
2017 | 116,601 | +1,632 | +1.42% |
2018 | 116,514 | -87 | -0.07% | [15]
2019 | 116,761 | +247 | +0.21% |
2020 | 117,902 | +1,141 | +0.98% |
2021 | 121,691 | +3,789 | +3.21% | [1]

## Services

[edit]

The Mackay Regional Council operates libraries in Mackay, Mount Pleasant, Walkerston, Sarina and Mirani.[16] A mobile library service visits the following districts on a fortnightly schedule: Yalboroo, Bloomsbury, Midge Point, Ball Bay, Seaforth, Koumala, Swayneville, Hay Point, St Helens Beach, Calen, Shoal Point, Oakenden, Habana, Blacks Beach, Slade Point, Hampden, Marian, Gargett, Finch Hatton, Homebush, Chelona, McEwens Beach and Bucasia.[17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mackay Region (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. ^ "2016 Mackay Regional Council - Mayoral Election - Election Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
3. ^ This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yuwibara". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
4. ^ 28 Vic No. 21 (Imp)
5. ^ Mackay Regional Council (2009). "History of council". Retrieved 10 March 2010.
6. ^ Queensland Local Government Reform Commission (July 2007). Report of the Local Government Reform Commission (PDF). Vol. 2\. Local government Reform Commission. pp. 199–203. ISBN 978-1-921057-11-3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 3 June 2010.
7. ^ "2020 Local Government Elections: Saturday, 28 March 2020". Electoral Commission of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.[dead link]
8. ^ a b "Mackay councillors to break from Mayor Greg Williamson's alliance in 2024". The Courier Mail.
9. ^ "FOR OUR REGION Team Greg Williamson Announces Candidates For Local Election". Mackay & Whitsunday Life.
10. ^ "Steve 'Jacko' Jackson's Mackay First team: Meet the candidates". The Courier Mail.
11. ^ "Mackay councillors to break from Mayor Greg Williamson's alliance in 2024". The Courier Mail.
12. ^ "IAN JAMES ROWAN". Electoral Commission of Queensland.
13. ^ 2011 Census QuickStats: Mackay (R) Australian Bureau of Statistics 28th March 2013
14. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Mackay Region (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
15. ^ Mackay Economic Profile 2018 Mackay Regional Council 2018
16. ^ "Libraries: Contact/Opening Hours". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
17. ^ "Mobile Library Timetable 2017" (PDF). Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Mackay Region at Wikimedia Commons

* "Looking back and moving forward: A brief history of Mackay Regional Council" (PDF). Mackay Regional Council. 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 January 2022.

* v
* t
* e

Towns, suburbs and localities in the Mackay Region, Queensland

* Alexandra
* Alligator Creek
* Andergrove
* Armstrong Beach
* Bakers Creek
* Balberra
* Ball Bay
* Balnagowan
* Beaconsfield
* Belmunda
* Benholme
* Blacks Beach
* Bloomsbury
* Brightly
* Broken River
* Bucasia
* Calen
* Campwin Beach
* Cape Hillsborough
* Chelona
* Crediton
* Cremorne
* Dalrymple Heights
* Devereux Creek
* Dolphin Heads
* Dows Creek
* Dumbleton
* Dunnrock
* East Mackay
* Eimeo
* Erakala
* Eton
* Eungella
* Eungella Dam
* Eungella Hinterland
* Farleigh
* Finch Hatton
* Foulden
* Freshwater Point
* Gargett
* Glenella
* Grasstree
* Grasstree Beach
* Greenmount
* Habana
* Half Tide
* Haliday Bay
* Hampden
* Hay Point
* Hazledean
* Hector
* Homebush
* Kinchant Dam
* Kolijo
* Koumala
* Kuttabul
* Laguna Quays
* Mackay (city)
* Mackay (suburb)
* Mackay Harbour
* Marian
* McEwens Beach
* Mentmore
* Mia Mia
* Midge Point
* Mirani
* Mount Charlton
* Mount Jukes
* Mount Martin
* Mount Ossa
* Mount Pelion
* Mount Pleasant
* Munbura
* Netherdale
* Nindaroo
* North Eton
* North Mackay
* Oakenden
* Ooralea
* Owens Creek
* Paget
* Palmyra
* Pindi Pindi
* Pinevale
* Pinnacle
* Pleystowe
* Racecourse
* Richmond
* Rosella
* Rural View
* Sandiford
* Sarina
* Sarina Beach
* Sarina Range
* Seaforth
* Septimus
* Shoal Point
* Slade Point
* South Mackay
* St Helens Beach
* Sunnyside
* Te Kowai
* The Leap
* Victoria Plains
* Walkerston
* West Mackay
* Yalboroo
* Zelma

Main Article: Local government areas of Queensland

* v
* t
* e

Local government areas of Queensland

South East|

* Brisbane
* Gold Coast
* Ipswich
* Lockyer Valley
* Logan
* Moreton Bay
* Noosa
* Redland
* Scenic Rim
* Somerset
* Sunshine Coast

Wide Bay–Burnett|

* Bundaberg
* Cherbourg
* Fraser Coast
* Gympie
* North Burnett
* South Burnett

Darling Downs|

* Goondiwindi
* Southern Downs
* Toowoomba
* Western Downs

Central|

* Banana
* Central Highlands
* Gladstone
* Isaac
* Livingstone
* Mackay
* Rockhampton
* Whitsunday
* Woorabinda

North|

* Burdekin
* Charters Towers
* Hinchinbrook
* Palm Island
* Townsville

Far North|

* Aurukun
* Cairns
* Cassowary Coast
* Cook
* Douglas
* Hope Vale
* Kowanyama
* Lockhart River
* Mapoon
* Mareeba
* Napranum
* Northern Peninsula Area
* Pormpuraaw
* Tablelands
* Torres
* Torres Strait Island
* Weipa
* Wujal Wujal
* Yarrabah

North West|

* Burke
* Carpentaria
* Cloncurry
* Croydon
* Doomadgee
* Etheridge
* Flinders
* Mckinlay
* Mornington
* Mount Isa
* Richmond

Central West|

* Barcaldine
* Barcoo
* Blackall-Tambo
* Boulia
* Diamantina
* Longreach
* Winton

South West|

* Balonne
* Bulloo
* Maranoa
* Murweh
* Paroo
* Quilpie

* v
* t
* e

North Queensland

Cities|

* Mackay
* Townsville

Townships|

* Airlie Beach
* Ayr
* Bowen
* Charters Towers
* Ingham
* Proserpine

Local Government Areas|

* Burdekin
* Charters Towers
* Hinchinbrook
* Mackay
* Palm Island
* Townsville
* Whitsunday Region

National Parks|

* Blackwood
* Brook Islands
* Bowling Green Bay
* Brampton Islands
* Broad Sound Islands
* Cape Hillsborough
* Cape Palmerston
* Cape Upstart
* Conway
* Dipperu
* Dryander
* Eungella
* Gloucester Island
* Halifax Bay Wetlands
* Holbourne Island
* Homevale
* Lindeman Islands
* Magnetic Island
* Molle Islands
* Moorrinya
* Mount Aberdeen
* Mount Martin
* Mount Ossa
* Newry Islands
* Northumberland Islands
* Orpheus Island
* Paluma Range
* Pioneer Peaks
* Reliance Creek
* Repulse Island
* Round Top Island
* Smith Islands
* South Cumberland Islands
* South Island
* Swain Reefs
* Whitsunday Islands

Places of interest|

* Wallaman Falls
* Whitsunday Islands

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