PLANNING AHEAD :
INDUSTRIAL LAND SUPPLY IN THE MACKAY REGION
Philip Grobler , Principal Strategic Planner , Mackay Regional Council
What do you do when you experience historic economic growth followed by a period of economic adjustment and have to plan for sufficient industrial land supply into the future ?
The Mackay Regional Council area experienced a significant economic growth period between 2002 and 2013 related to a coal mining boom in the Bowen Basin in Queensland . The 11-year growth period added 24 % to the Mackay Regional Council population , 30 % to its housing stock and 52 % more jobs .
The growth period saw significant expansion of developed industrial land . Over this period , gross raw coal production from the wider region totalled 3 billion tonnes , of which 34 % was derived from new mines . Most of the heavy industries to support this growth is located in the Paget industrial estate in Mackay , which doubled in size by adding 161 hectares . This meant an annual increase of 14.6 hectares per year over the 11-year period – the most significant increase in industrial land in the history of Mackay .
By 2014 , the Mackay Region braced itself for the economic adjustment that followed the boom period and Council was forced to learn from the lessons of the rapid growth period and plan ahead . Council proceeded to develop a new planning scheme , reconsidered its infrastructure provision strategy , developed a new economic development strategy and implemented a facilitating development policy to support the local economy .
By 2017 , the economy turned a corner towards stabilisation and confidence in the region was reflected in increased jobs and a return to positive population growth . Council continued to invest in infrastructure to support the economy and improve liveability in the Mackay Region , but more importantly took further action by planning for sufficient industrial land supply to accommodate future growth .
In 2019 , Council started the investigation into the drivers of the demand for industrial land and to plan ahead for future industrial land supply to 2040 . Council appointed Ethos Urban to undertake the significant amount of market and industrial land analysis and scenario planning required to deliver an independent report on their findings .
The key pieces of work and related analysis included :
• Understanding the Mackay economy and sectors driving industrial land demand ,
• The development status and use of each parcel of industrial land ,
• Historical annual industrial land take-up patterns ,
• Targeted stakeholder consultation ,
• Developing scenarios for future industry land demand ,
• Testing adequacy of industrial land supply against scenarios , and
• Recommending clear action to ensure sufficient industrial land supply to 2040 .
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL VOL 14 NO 3 2021 27