Mackay, QLD
Regional Council in Queensland
Australia
Mackay, QLD collaborates with FYA on Australian-first pilot of Young Mayors program
The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) plans Young Mayors pilots in five councils starting with Mackay. Residents aged 11 to 18 can seek election by their peers to the local youth cabinet. FYA trains cabinet members about local government, provides connections to experts, and builds networks among youth cabinets across the world. Mackay youth cabinet members advocate for their priorities during regular consultations with the regional council.
Mackay, QLD
Australia
Mackay, QLD introduces public circuit board printer as part of manufacturing collaboration project
Mackay Regional Council and METS Ignited installed the printer for the one-year Rapid Prototyping and Micro Manufacturing Collaborative Pilot. The NeoDen pick-and-place machine can produce up to 400 printed circuit boards per day. Members of the public can create their own boards at minimal expense. Early users of the technology include local IoT manufacturer Vayeron. Local officials plan on expanding printer capacity to reduce the impacts of global supply chains on innovation.
Mackay, QLD
Australia
Mackay, QLD Activate My Place program reenergizes downtown and waterfront public spaces
Local residents and groups applied for grants worth 100% of placemaking budgets up to $1,000 AUD. Eligible projects included outdoor art courses, community meals, and pop-up cinemas. Council staffers guided applicants on maximizing the impacts of their projects on the general public. Assessment criteria for AMP! micro-grants included reducing social isolation, promoting local culture, and celebrating diversity.
Mackay, QLD
Australia
Mackay, QLD anticipates tourism boost from new bike trails with Small Business Mentoring Program
Council leaders are preparing businesses in Eungella and Finch Hatton for increased traffic from a planned 100-kilometer trail system. Participants start by submitting their business plans for comprehensive mentor reviews. Project partner Sparrowly Group arranges five one-hour mentoring sessions between experts and business owners. The free program offers networking opportunities, a hotline for participant questions, and a private group on Facebook.
Mackay, QLD
Australia
Mackay, QLD encourages resident activities close to home with Know Your Burb website
Council officials responded to increased demand for local activities during COVID-19 lockdowns with Know Your Burb. The website houses an interactive map of paths, parks, and recreation spaces across the region. Suburb-specific guides compile every park's amenities and provide suggestions for outdoor destinations. Mackay Regional Council used four park events, weekly drawings based on social media posts, and an Ultimate Adventure Pack drawing to promote the website.
Mackay, QLD
Australia
Mackay, QLD swaps staff audits for drone flights during landfill environmental testing
Environmental tests were previously conducted by staffers every six months. Recent drone tests of 16 council landfills trimmed a monthslong process to four days. Each drone used infrared sensors to capture methane and carbon dioxide levels throughout assigned areas. Mackay created comprehensive maps of landfill emissions by testing from above. Replacing staff monitoring with drones also reduced risks created by walking on unlevel surfaces.
Mackay, QLD
Australia
Mackay, QLD introduces Property Flood Report Tool for expanded access to planning data
Mackay Regional Council created this tool to process report requests more efficiently than applications through existing channels. Council staffers developed a three-minute instructional video to improve the user experience. Users enter addresses in the Property Flood Report Tool to receive lot-specific flood data as PDFs. Each report includes design flood levels, minimum floor level requirements, and potential flood sources.
Mackay, QLD
Australia