Grants available to enhance Mackay businesses and public spaces  

Published on 16 July 2025

Council is offering a trio of exciting grant opportunities to help revitalise local business façades, boost community safety and activate public spaces.

This year marks the eleventh anniversary of council’s popular Façade Improvement Grant, which enables business and property owners across the region to access co-funding of up to $5000 – covering up to 50 per cent of their total project costs.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the initiative was designed to inject new life into the region’s commercial districts.

“Council has no power to force people to make their shopfronts more visually appealing, but this is a proactive way in which we can collaborate with local businesses to provide a financial incentive to upgrade their façades,” Mayor Williamson said.

“The Façade Improvement Grant is open to all businesses in the Mackay region – not just the City Centre,” he said.

The grant supports a variety of enhancements, including:

• Painting and exterior wall improvements.

• Restoration of historic or architectural features.

• Business signage upgrades.

• Renovated entrances and accessible entryways.

• Installation of awnings, lighting and street-facing windows.

• Sustainable upgrades that support energy efficiency.

• Improvements promoting safety and community accessibility.

In addition to façade upgrades, council is also inviting applications for two place-based grants in the Mackay City and Waterfront area:

• City Safety Grant – up to $3000 aimed at improving the late-night economy through enhanced safety infrastructure.

• Make Your Place Mackay Waterfront Placemaking Grant – supports inclusive community projects that encourage connection and activity.  Grants of up to $7500 are available for large scale projects and microgrants of up to $1500 are available for smaller, pop-up style projects.

“These grants allow our community to bring bold placemaking ideas to life and create safe, welcoming spaces,” Mayor Williamson said.

“We want our Riverside and City Centre precincts to come alive and be places people are excited to experience – day and night.”

An example of a successful placemaking project from the last round is the River of Life Festival, held at Bluewater Quay and River Wharves.

It showcased local performers, dancing, market stalls and more – all brought together by a volunteer-led collective.

Applications for all three grants open today (Wednesday, July 16) and close at 11.59pm on August 20.

Instructions of how to apply and grant guidelines are available at mackaywaterfront.com.au.

Before lodging a grant application, we strongly recommend applicants contact the Mackay City and Waterfront team via email at mackaywaterfront@mackay.qld.gov.au to arrange a time to discuss the proposed project.

Community Briefing Day

To assist you to get the best outcomes from new grant opportunities, the Mackay City and Waterfront team will also be providing a day of community briefing sessions to help create optimum outcomes from your grant applications.

Date: Wednesday, July 30.
Venue: Aligned Corporate Residences – Level 1 Conference Room, Macalister St, Mackay.
Times: 7.30am | 8am | 12.30pm | 2.30pm

If you are unable to make the group time just pop in, the team will be there all day from 7.30am until 4.30pm to assist with your enquiries.

The Make Your Place Mackay Waterfront Placemaking Grants allow the community to bring bold placemaking ideas to life, like pop-up concerts and events.