The Mackay Region

The Mackay Region is now a major economic contributor to the

States and is experiencing continued strong growth.
Coupled with the regions desirable tropical lifestyle with a spread
out developement, Mackays population is rapidly increasing.
The Ooralea area is identified as a potential future growth
investigation area to accommodate a growing residential
population south of the Pioneer River.

Mackay Regions
broad-acre greenfield site;
close proximity to City Centre
and
Paget
(employment
oppourtunity); the land is
relatively
unconstrained;
appropriate levels of traffic
access are achievable; future
public transport.
There is already emerging
residential development in the
area.
Local Area Plan (LAP) for Ooralea
intends to direct the release of
areas for new
residential,
commercial, community and
industrial development and guide
future development in an
efficient and sustainable manner.

Racecourse & emerging residential Mackay Botanic Gardens, West Mackay

and the City Centre
neighbourhoods adjacent to it

Central Queensland University

Sugar mill

Cane rail

The LAP Process

1.
2.
3.
4.

Primary site study

Developing a Strategy and Vision
Broader Community Consultation
Preparing the Draft Local Area Plan
Individual
stakeholder
meetings

Development
of preliminary
planning &
urban design
principles

Identify
Planning
Scheme
amendments

Stakeholder
consultation

Stakeholder
Meetings

Preparation
Of development
Guidelines &
Draft LAP

Finalise LAP

Community
consultation
& information
displays

MRC internal
design
workshop

Ooralea Local
Area Plan

EbD Workshop
+ findings &
outcomes report

Preparation of
Site Context
Report

Enquiry by Design (EbD) Workshops

The EbD was an investigative process rather than a decision making process. Not all of
the findings may be pursued, but instead used as an input to guide further discussion
and investigation through the LAP process
Objective:
To Facilitate collaboration between community stakeholders, Council and State
Agency members to establish a common vision
To Establish a shared understanding of Ooraleas current situation in terms of its strategic
context, existing uses, physical character, policy influences and proposed infrastructure In response to
identified issues and opportunities, prepare and test concept plan options for community structure which
identify land uses, major transport networks, development intensity and open spaces

To Identify a preferred Concept Structure Plan for the LAP area

Outputs:
numerous plans, concepts and supporting material which recorded and illustrated the
findings of the workshop.

EbD Participants
Stakeholders

local and wider community

land owners
businesses
non-government organisations
Elected representatives of Council
Representatives of relevant Council departments and State Government
agencies.

EBD workshop
Day One

Presentations by stakeholders including Council, Government agencies and private interest

groups

consultant team presented an overview of the site context, opportunities and constraints.
This included a presentation of best practice planning and urban design principles which
establish the
over arching strategic directions for concept plan preparation.

broad concept plan options with detailed design briefs were developed for each in
response to the site opportunities and constraints and the planning and urban design
principles.

Swot analysis of the three design options.

Day Two

open discussions and feedback session involving all workshop participants for developing a
preferred concept plan.

Day Three

Review session of the work completed over the first two days which ended with an
open forum with presentations and question answer session for general public