AN ambitious plan to provide the rapidly growing Northern Beaches area of Mackay with a community centre incorporating everything from a library and health facilities through to undercover outdoor spaces and a children’s nature play area will set the community up for the next generation.

I congratulate Mackay Regional Council on their visionary plan, noting that the catalyst was a $6.5 million funding grant secured for a Northern Beaches Community Hub.

 Funding of $6.5 million which I was able to secure at the last federal election has given Mackay Regional Council the impetus to secure land and consult with the community about what is needed to service a population which is expected to hit 30,000 by 2036.

 The initial concept was for a smaller facility likely to incorporate a library, dedicated youth space, meeting areas and consultation suites.

 But following engagement with many sectors of the community, council has come up with a vision which sets the area up for the next generation. This significantly increases the size and scope of this hub for the residents of the Northern Beaches.

 I am fully supportive of their plan to provide a community hub covering 3.7 hectares of land between Eimeo Road and Rosewood Drive and will do what I can to secure additional funding to make this a reality.

 Stage 1A of the Northern Beaches Community Hub master plan incorporates a covered multi-purpose undercover area for all weather use, surrounding recreation areas including a children’s nature play area and other associated infrastructure such as stormwater drainage. This comes at a cost of $10.75 million with council providing the additional $4.25m on top of the $6.5m grant funding.

 Stage 1B of the master plan, at an estimated cost of an additional $37m, would incorporate a town square, library and community meeting rooms, and further outdoor and indoor spaces.